Principles of Buddhism
Buddhism is all about finding inner peace and controlling one's self-desires. Not many people are aware of the fact that Buddhism is the fifth largest religion being followed all over the world. It has over 520 million followers who comprise almost 7% of total world's population. The religion is encompassed by the teachings and beliefs of Buddha.
Principles of Buddhism are based on an eightfold path and the four noble truths. To understand and learn more about Principles of Buddhism, we need to dwell on the details of the path and truths laid by Buddha.
Eightfold path
There are a number of reasons that cause suffering to people, and to overcome those sufferings Buddha laid down an eightfold path, as a pioneer to the principle of Buddhism. These eight folds in the path of overcoming stress and suffering are as follows:
- Right means of livelihood: To lead a comfortable path, one must find the right way of living, rather than going in the wrong path.
- Right Speech: Before uttering any word, one should make sure to think wisely. Any wrong speech can worsen the situation.
- Right action: To lead a peaceful life one must never forget to do good deeds. Any action taken against peace and harmony can cause a lot of suffering.
- Right exertion: We should exert our body only to the level it can bear. Anything that exceeds the limit is not good.
- Right-mindedness: We should always try to stay in right state of mind; losing our cool and temper will do nothing but harm our inner self. We should always have good and peaceful thoughts.
- Right Meditation: Meditate with all body and soul. One should be able to count every breath one takes.
- Right resolution: Before following Buddhism, we should ask ourselves what is that we actually want. Once we have an answer to this question, it will be easy for us to achieve enlightenment.
- Right Point of view: We must have the right point of view in order to achieve something. Any vague thought will never help us achieve the same.
This eightfold path is the perfect mixture of physical and mental control along with the development of insight.
The other part that comprises Principles of Buddhism is the four noble truths. These are a must to attain happiness and harmony in life. Buddha believed that to overcome suffering and lead a happy and peaceful life one must comprehend one's life around these four noble truths:
- Sorrows and sufferings are part of this life. We exist in this world and this is the only reason we suffer. Suffering starts from the time we take birth and continues until we die.
- There are reasons to suffer in this world. One of the most common reasons is when our desires are not fulfilled and we do not possess something we like in this world.
- The only way to end this suffering is to destroy the desire.
- To destroy this desire, one needs to follow the path that will take them away from these worldly possessions.
- To sum up the Principles of Buddhism, one needs to overcome desires if one wants to lead a peaceful and happy life. To end this suffering, desires have to end.
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