The Origins
Buddhism appeared in India in the 6th Century B.C. It came from an area where Hinduism prevailed and that’s why we see a lot in common between both religions. However, it did not flower in India due to religious persecution and intolerance, and it soon moved into China, where it found a fertile soil to develop as a philosophy, religion, and method for a better life.
It all began with the Buddha. Buddha was a prince who left his life of wealth and comfort, in order to think about one simple question “how can one be free of suffering”. During this process, which took him about 6 years, he meditated often and developed a path for all beings. This is the path to enlightenment and the freedom from suffering.
Prince Gautama became Buddha as he awakened from the matrix that surrounds us. He was able to see reality as it is, without projection or unconsciousness. Buddha is not a God, his statues are not made to be worshiped, he did not practice any rituals. All he did was create and embody the path to enlightenment.
The Process
Long story short, we’re all on the path to nirvana in this lifetime (another word for enlightenment). The path, Dharma is clear and requires us to refrain from some things, but to develop others. It requires evolution and self-awareness. Every time we drift away from the path, Karma brings us back in line. The path reflects the laws of nature respecting each human being and his limitations.
There are basically three points that summarize Buddhism: Suffering, finding out the cause of the suffering, walking the path (ethics, mind and wisdom) and finally reaching Nirvana, which is what we call enlightenment.
First Truth
To deal with the first truth of suffering, we’ll have to understand the concept of impermanence. We are immortal beings in constant transformation occupying a vessel that helps us traverse our path. The vessels, our bodies and those of our loved ones are perishable, so we need to learn how to deal with this fact. This makes aging, getting sick, dying all natural consequences of the approaching expiration date.
Our desires, getting what we want, or not getting what we want are all related to our Ego. To overcome this we have to realize that we are part of something greater. Thus, the “I” will disappear from the sentences that come from our mouths.
Perceiving ourselves as an individual is actually an illusion as Nirvana reveals to us. We all form a Unity, yet we feel important when we see ourselves independent from the others.
This misconception is related to all the three origins of human suffering. We know that the Earth spins around the sun, but we live our lives as if everything else revolves around us.
Second Truth
The second truth is composed of the 3 “poisons” greed, hatred and ignorance. We must understand that ignorance isn’t just not knowing something. but rather refusing to learn about things. It is a kind of willful ignorance. These poisons will begin to dissolve on the way to enlightenment.
The Method
Meditation is the key tool for all the steps, especially to the third truth, the path. It will lead you to develop the 4 sublime attitudes: loving kindness, compassion, empathetic joy and equanimity.
It also helps us rearrange the perspective of ourselves. Meditation developed through the concept of mindfulness, teaches us a way that allows us to focus on the present, regardless of time and space. This is how we develop sight to see the reality. This is how we awaken.
Buddhism requires a lot of inquiry. It demands questioning the teachings themselves and questioning our own selves, our feelings, and our actions. It focuses on the human being and not on a god or gods. It’s main goal is to release mankind from suffering and the way it accomplishes this is through self-development.
Naturally, the result of such practice will end up building compassionate personalities, capable of seeing themselves as a part of a bigger engine. It is really worth digging deeper into Buddha’s teachings, and I encourage you to do so. I did, I would say I regret that it took me too long to get into it.
This is not an advertisement, I’m not inviting you to join a new religion. I’m telling you that there are meaningful teachings in this “philosophy”. And that we can only become better people by studying it.
