What are the most fundamental Aspects of Buddhism?

Perfect_600

Im deciding between religions

vinlyn

For me:

1. The Four Noble Truths -- although personally, I don't see these as the only thing important in life.

2. The Noble Eightfold Path -- it's difficult for me to see how anyone could seriously argue the wisdom of these concepts.

3. Refuge in the Three Jewels -- taking refuge in the teachings of Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha. Here is where it begins to get more difficult. Buddhas teachings are not interpreted the same by everyone. Not all monks agree on many issues. This is where the individual really is forced to begin looking at things...well, without attachment.

Jeffrey

Sanos lute is a good basic thing to remember in pondering the ones vinlyn mentioned. Not too loose not too tight. So that your mind is in tune and you are not pressured or dull. This way you are alive to the teachings.

federica

Im deciding between religions

We're not going to try to convince you either way, just in case you wondered.
Buddhism encourages people to look at things for themselves.

Google - The Four Noble Truths.

Google - The eightfold path

Google - the 5 Precepts.

Put the 17 together, and reduce them to one -

Simplify.

And smile a lot.
And be Mindful.

Best of luck. I hope you find what it is you seek. Chances are, you're sitting on it.

charirama

Loving Kindness

fivebells

What are you fundamentally looking for in a religion, @Perfect_600?

zidangus

Ok here is a link to a big book (438 pages) it will tell you a lot about the basic principles, not everything as there are other schools which differ in some teachings, but a lot about the basics anyway.


http://www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/whatbelieve.pdf

With Metta

DhammaDhatu

@Perfect_600

Developing faith or a deep interest in the teachings due to one's personal experience of suffering, unsatisfactoriness, lack of contentment, etc

Faith, monks, also has a supporting condition, I say, it does not lack a supporting condition. And what is the supporting condition for faith? 'Suffering' should be the reply.

Cloud

Impermanence/Anicca, that each experience is here and gone, arising and passing to the next.

Not-Self/Anatta, that each experience is compounded and there is no separate entity or being.

(Emptiness as the combination of Impermanence and Not-Self, there is no Self element to be found in any transient thing/object/experience.)

Suffering/Dukkha, that each experience is unsatisfactory and there can be found no lasting satisfaction in (seeking/craving/having expectations of) experiences.

The Four Noble Truths, that suffering is born of our thirst/craving for experiences and that the Noble Eightfold Path of practice can lead to the cessation of that very thirst/craving (and thus prevent future suffering).

The Five Precepts, which are important to keep the mind pure and allow you to cultivate wholesomeness in place of unwholesomeness. No killing, stealing, lying or other poor speech, adultery or other sexual inappropriateness, intoxicants that can lead to breaking any of these.

Refuge in the Buddha as teacher, his teachings the Dharma, and his disciples the Sangha (both monastics and enlightened students).

Jeffrey

All craving or grasping leads to suffering. Even that which is directed towards something we know is impermanent. Indeed attachment to impermanence causes suffering. Impermanence is not a metaphysics. It is just a skillful means. In my opinion it is like a set of corrective lenses so we do not bump into people or things.