| Buddhism
- Teachings
At the centre of the enlightenment that is said to be achieved by
the practices of Buddhism lie what are called the Four Noble Truths;
(1) Life is suffering; (2) All suffering is caused by ignorance
of the nature of reality as well as the attachments that result
from this ignorance; (3) Suffering can be overcome by removing ignorance
and releasing oneself from attachment; (4) The way to overcoming
suffering is through following the Noble Eightfold Path: right views,
right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right
effort, right-mindedness and right contemplation. These eight elements
of the Noble Eightfold Path are divided into three categories that
form the pillars of Buddhism: morality, wisdom and samadhi.
Buddhism, as it has evolved and as it exists today, does not recognize
the existence of a Supreme Being. But some state that this was not
the case in the beginning, and that Buddha did acknowledge a Supreme
Being. Ashoka, the most famous and most devoted follower of the
Buddha and his teachings, carved many inscriptions on rocks called
stupas, and some state that these rocks clearly indicate a belief
in a Supreme Being. One such rock is located on the bank of a river
named Katak, and reads as follows:
“Much longing after the things (of this life) is a disobedience,
I again declare; not less so is the laborious ambition of dominion
by a prince who would be a proprietor of heaven. Confess and believe
in God (Is’ana) who is the worthy object of obedience. For
equal to this (belief), I declare unto you, ye shall not find such
a means of propitiating heaven. Oh strive ye to obtain this inestimable
treasure.”
Introduction
| Teaching of Buddhism | Jesus & Buddha
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