Group+7+Beliefs

__**Buddhism Beliefs**__

In this section, I will:-
 * 1) Give a detailed description of the beliefs of the religion.
 * 2) Explain how these beliefs arise from the religion's history.
 * 3) What is the religion's sacred book and how does it relate to beliefs?

There are beliefs in all the religions, like us Christians believing in god and Jesus. And of course, there are beliefs for Buddhist; their beliefs can be demonstrated in the following concepts and doctrines:


 * The Four Noble Truths**
 * 1) The existence of suffering. Birth is painful and death is painful; disease and old age are painful. Not having what we desire is painful and having what we do not desire is also painful.
 * 2) The cause of suffering. It is the craving desire for the pleasures of the senses, which seeks satisfaction now here, now there; the craving for happiness and prosperity in this life and in future lives.
 * 3) The ending of suffering. To be free of suffering one must give up, get rid of, extinguish this very craving, so that no passion and no desire remain.
 * 4) Leads to the ending of all pain by way of the Eightfold Path.


 * The Eightfold Path**
 * 1) Right Views: You must accept the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path.
 * 2) Right Resolve: You must renounce the pleasures of the senses; you must harbour no ill will toward anyone and harm no living creature.
 * 3) Right Speech: Do not lie; do not slander or abuse anyone. Do not indulge in idle talk.
 * 4) Right Behaviour: Do not destroy any living creature; take only what is given to you; do not commit any unlawful sexual act.
 * 5) Right Occupation: You must earn your livelihood in a way that will harm no one.
 * 6) Right Effort: You must resolve and strive heroically to prevent any evil qualities from arising in you and to abandon any evil qualities that you may possess. Strive to acquire good qualities and encourage those you do possess to grow, increase, and be perfected.
 * 7) Right Contemplation: Be observant, strenuous, alert, contemplative, and free of desire and of sorrow.
 * 8) Right Meditation: When you have abandoned all sensuous pleasures, all evil qualities, both joy and sorrow, you must then enter the four degrees of meditation, which are produced by concentration.


 * Buddhist Precepts**

There are five precepts taught by Buddhism that all Buddhists should follow:
 * 1) Kill no living thing.
 * 2) Do not steal.
 * 3) Do not commit adultery.
 * 4) Tell no lies.
 * 5) Do not drink intoxicants or take drugs.

Other precepts apply only to monks and nuns:
 * 1) Eat moderately and only at the appointed time.
 * 2) Avoid that which excites the senses.
 * 3) Do not wear adornments.
 * 4) Do not sleep in luxurious beds.
 * 5) Accept no silver or gold.


 * Basic Beliefs of Buddhism**

· Buddha is the only Master. · They take refuge in the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha. · This world is not created and ruled by a God. · The purpose of life is to develop empathy for all living beings without prejudice and to work for their good, happiness, and peace. Last but not the least; they need acquire acumen that will lead to the realization of Ultimate Truth. · They accept the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism · All accustomed things (samskaara) are transient (anitya) and dukkha and all conditioned and unconditioned things (dharma) are without self (anaatma). · The Thirty-seven qualities helpful in Enlightenment are different aspects of the path taught by the Buddha. · There are three ways of attaining Enlightenment, namely as a Disciple, as a Pratyeka-Buddha and as a Samyak-sam-Buddha. The life of a Bodhisattva, who is striving to become a Samyak-sam-Buddha, is the highest, noblest and the most heroic. · The different Buddhist beliefs, practices, rites and ceremonies, customs and habits followed in different countries should not be confused with the essential teachings of Buddha.


 * Buddhism sacred book**

The sacred book of Buddhism is called the Tipitaka. It is written in an ancient Indian language called Pali which is very close to the language that the Buddha himself spoke. The Tripitaka is a very large book. The English translation of it takes up nearly forty volumes.