10 Facts You Might Not Know About Buddhism
Buddhism Origin
Buddhism is basically taught by Siddhartha Gautama, born in the early 623 B.C. He was a prince since his birth however he undergoes a long-term spiritual search for happiness and searching for solutions to end suffering. After trials and several paths, he eventually got his enlightenment under the tree that is called the Bodhi tree. Right after his enlightenment, he started to teach everyone about Buddhism’s thoughts, which is how Buddhism started.
Suffering is Inevitable
Buddhism teaches us that life is full of adventure and suffering and those are the fact as Buddha once said before that suffering is inevitable. Eventually, he manages to found a way out by following the noble the eightfold path. You will have to endure the pain and suffer sometimes but according to the teachings, this unique path will eventually reduce the suffering once reaches Nirvana.
Buddha is an Individual Who Achieved Enlightenment
Most people think that Buddha is a person yet this is a misconception of all times. Anyone can be Buddha and it is just a title of a particular person who had to reach the state of enlightenment in the state of Nirvana. Siddharta Gautama was the first Buddha that ever reaches a state of Nirvana and since then there have been recorded that a few more had to reach the state too. That is also the reason why buddha statues look different.
The Teachings of Buddhism
Since the beginning of Buddhism, there was only one teaching and it is from Siddharta Gautama yet as time passed the teachings had been spread to many countries all around the world and different branches were created and lessons were been taught and defined slightly differently. The three major branches of Buddhism are Theravada, Mahayana, and lastly Vajrayana.
Mandatory for Monks and Nuns to Shave Their Hair
In Pali Vinaya-Pitaka, it is written and stated that hair must be shaved at all times when it reaches two finger length width. It is a symbol of gesture to prove the monks and nuns are always ready to commit and leave their past behind at any moment and it is a way of discouraging vanity too. This ritual isn’t something that has been done to reach enlightenment but in fact, some sources have proven that Siddartha Gautama does have hair from time to time.
Buddhism Believes in karma
Karma is defined by each action that has consequences for it in life or the afterlife. It is uncertain when but it will come by genuinely and good intentions will relatively obtain good karma and every evil act you’ve done will eventually get back to you in a bad form of karma and to summarise, what goes around comes around.
The Wheel of Dhamma
Wheel of Dhamma represents the noble eightfold path, it consists of various elements such as right view, right thinking, right speech, right livelihood, right diligence, right mindfulness and lastly right concentration. This is how a good Buddhism should act to avoid suffering and this will also be ensuring that the focus will mainly be set on reaching the state of enlightenment.
Each Individual is Responsible For Their Enlightenment
Since the beginning of the teaching, there has s no savior such as Jesus in Christianity or Messiah in Judaism. It is up to individuals to keep up in the good karma they are doing and work on their way to attain enlightenment. Nobody else has the ability to make anyone a Buddha except you yourself can do it in the right way.
Meditation is Part of Buddhism
When Buddha reaches a certain stage of enlightenment after a long period of meditation under the Bodhi Tree in Bodh Gaya, meditation is taken seriously. Each month, there are several sessions daily
Buddhism Does Not Believe in God
These are perhaps the most interesting facts you might not know about Buddhism. There is no god to follow and none to worship any individual who can be Buddha once an individual reaches the state of Nirvana.