| What is this all about? | | | | movie that introduces people to Buddhism and |
| This introduction to Buddhism is in the first place an | | | | Buddhist teachings. Although things such as its history, |
| easy and small guide to the thought processes and | | | | the different kinds of buddhism and a Buddhist |
| ideas behind the religion called Buddhism. This | | | | dictionary also have their importance, most Buddhist |
| introduction to Buddhism is made to help you | | | | communities are mainly interested in showing people |
| understand the basic concepts about the Buddhistic | | | | what buddhist ideas can mean for their life. Most of |
| belief system that will start you off in your new | | | | the times it is to end the situation we suffer from or to |
| journey of life if you decide to walk this path. So this | | | | seek answers to why people must suffer. These are |
| introduction to Buddhism is set up not only for men and | | | | reasons why people may become Buddhists. Another |
| women in the West but also for people in traditionally | | | | thing we should note is that, after attaining |
| Buddhist countries who may have become estranged | | | | enlightenment, Buddha immediately attempted to teach |
| from their religion for a variety of social, cultural and | | | | all others the path to enlightenment so that they, too, |
| other reasons. | | | | could put an end to their sufferings. This is also a basic |
| Buddhism and what lies beneath the surface | | | | concept of Buddhism: To take care of others around |
| Buddhism is just about anything you want it to be. | | | | you. |
| Throughout the past 20 years it has awakened | | | | The importance of Meditation |
| considerable interest in the West. There are a lot of | | | | You can learn about Buddhism from a written or audio |
| (so called) celebrities - e. g. Richard Gere to name just | | | | source, a video or a DVD or the Internet, but you have |
| one of the more famous - who are either Buddhist or | | | | no substitute for a good teacher, community, or retreat |
| are sympathetic to the religion of Buddhism. The | | | | for learning meditation. With a good trainer in meditation |
| Buddhistic religion sees six basic emotions: | | | | you have something like a life-coach who will try to |
| - Ignorance, | | | | work on conscious living brought about through |
| - attachment to things (and people), | | | | meditation. Some of the services include chanting and |
| - anger, | | | | praying which are core elements of Buddhistic |
| - pride, | | | | meditation. |
| - deluded doubt, | | | | The Mind |
| - distorted views. | | | | Okay. Now we will come to one of the most important |
| Those are understood to disturb our peace. Buddhism | | | | teachings in Buddhism and to achieve the goals set up |
| so far already has made a major impact on western | | | | for you you need to have the right mindset. What we |
| culture. To a Buddhist his religion is more than "just" a | | | | are talking about here is the "famous" Eight Fold Path. It |
| philosophical guide to living a life, it is a way - several | | | | consists of eight steps (as the name indicates): |
| thousand years old by the way - to become a better | | | | In short, the 8 steps are: |
| being. When we walk on towards some of the | | | | - to obtain the right view, |
| characteristics of Buddhism which require or need a | | | | - to have the right intention, |
| some kind of belief rather than human logic (e. g. | | | | - to talk the right speech, |
| believing in reincarnation) you will see why some | | | | - to take the right action, |
| people may be hesitant to follow and "believe" | | | | - to obtain the right existence, |
| everything the Buddha has said. But don't let this | | | | - to take the right effort, |
| non-believing or this approach of "Buddhism Light" | | | | - to achieve the right mindfulness and finally (last but |
| stand in your way if you follow the path. | | | | not least) |
| How to become a (better) Buddhist | | | | - to have the right concentration. |
| The path covers the life of Buddha and the Buddhist | | | | When we study these steps we are studying our own |
| approach to suffering and its causes as presented in | | | | lives and what our minds are made of. Better than |
| the main teachings of Buddhism which are: | | | | putting our focus on becoming some supreme to |
| - The Four Noble Truths | | | | others, the religion of Buddhism emphasizes on a little |
| - The Eight Fold Path (we'll cover that in a second) | | | | bit more "close to live things", for example how to lead |
| - The Three Principles of the Path and how to begin | | | | our lives, how enhance one selves mind and how to |
| one's practice. | | | | become more peaceful and healthy in our day-to-day |
| For example, students look for applications of Buddhist | | | | lives. This is the mindset that is important for every |
| principles in their own lives in coping with problems, visit | | | | Buddhist and is absolutely necessary for following the |
| a Buddhist temple, and learn to master meditation. | | | | Buddhist path described above. |
| Most often in the Western world it is a book or a | | | | |