Group+3+Beleifs+and+customs

Buddhism Group3: Beleifs and customs Home
 * __Beliefs of the Buddha__**

The main role of the Buddhist culture is to achieve a holy life and to finish the path of liberation. This is achieved by following the four noble truths (though they do believe that there are some people who have achieved liberation [or awakening]. This person is also known as a Buddha.) The four truths are all centred on “dukkha” which translates as suffering. The four truths centre around what suffering is what it is, what its causes are and how to remove its existence.

The four truths are as follows: All previous Buddha’s have taught that the cause of Dukkha is desire and it can be destroyed by following the “Noble Eightfold path”:

1. Birth is suffering, aging is suffering, illness is suffering, death is suffering; union with what is displeasing is suffering; separation from what is pleasing is suffering; not to get what one wants is suffering; in brief, the five aggregates subject to clinging are suffering.

2. **The cause of suffering:** The [|craving] which leads to [|renewed existence] (rebirth) (the cycle of samsara)

3. **The cessation of suffering:** The cessation of [|craving].

4. **The way leading to the cessation of suffering:** The [|Noble Eightfold Path];

According to ancient Buddha scriptures these were the exact words spoken by the first Buddha ([|Siddhartha Gautama]) in his first service after his enlightenment. It was treated more like a prescription for good health than a guide to a noble life.

The fourth noble truth is broken up into the “Noble eighth fold path”. Not following this path is said to be like a child playing with a toy while his house is burning down around him.

It is divided into four sections each focusing on a different form of evil:

__Sila:__ This focuses on morals to do no evil through body and speech: 1. Right speech: do not say evil or hurtful things to anyone and to tell the truth. 2. Right actions: Avoiding actions that cause harm to other living things. 3. Right livelihood: Living a life that does not cause harm to oneself or others either directly or indirectly.

__Samadhi:__ Becoming the master of your own mind: 1. Right effort/exercise: Always strive to improve yourself. 2. Right mindfulness/awareness: Using a clear conscious to see things the way they really are. 3. Right concentration/meditation: Being aware of the reality inside oneself and keeping free of craving and aversion.

__Prajna:__ Wisdom that purifies the mind: 1. Right understanding: Seeing the world for what it is and not what it appears to be. 2. Right thoughts: Change in the pattern of thinking.

Both of these paths have much in common with the ten commandments of the Catholic faith.

A Buddha who achieves all of the four truths and has rid themselves of greed, hatred, delusion, ignorance, craving and belief in oneself. Achieving this is thought to be the highest achievement of the Buddha
 * __Bodhi:__**