Basics

DJDanny

I am new to Buddhism... Can anyone give me a short summary of its basic tenets?

Ficus_religiosa

http://buddhanet.net is where I learned a lot. Especially the book "Good Question, Good Answer" (which is up for free download) was a nice, easy-to-read introduction for one who comes from "scratch"..

nescafe

Two things I think are important.

Cause and Effect: It is like "You have to pay if you want something" therefore if you do not want anything or the least things, you will not have to pay nothing or a least.

Emptiness: Everything other than you experieced direcly is an illusion.

My views.

Javelin

BuddhaNet is a great resource. The focal point of Buddhism is to know 'why' we are dissatisfied/frustrated with life. This is explained as desires that arise despite a reality that may not meet them.

The desire arises that we should not age, but aging happens. If our minds fully accept the way things are, and do not seek the impossible, we find peace. Buddhism offers a way to bring the mind into harmony with reality.

Namaste

PietroPumokin

1. life is suffering
2. suffering is born due to craving!
3. there is an end to this suffering!
4. it's thru the 8fold path

8fold path: doing zazen WHOLEHEARTEDLY

thickpaper

DJDanny wrote: »

I am new to Buddhism... Can anyone give me a short summary of its basic tenets?

Sure:)

There are three basic truths that are true of all possible realities and things and systems and well, everything thats contingent (possible or not possible).

These truths are:

All things are impermanent.

Nothing lasts, either in space or time or possibility.
There is only change.

This eternal univeral is called "anicca."

All things are empty and interconnected.

There is nothing that can be something of itself.
For anything you can name that thing will have nameable parts, it can always be divided.
Any thing is connected by some path to every other thing.

This is the second eternal universal is called "anataman."

Anataman operates in all "realms" in ways that make sense to those realms. It is true of molecules and minds and membrains, but this fact cant really be proved to you, rather it is apprehended in a way that is somehow pre reason. You might think it similar to trying to prove to yourself why 1+1=2.

Anataman on the psychological level shows clearly why there is no ego or self, it is just an illusion that must be the case for their to be experience. The Buddha says "There is no thinker only thought(s)."

"All things undergo negative change."


The third eternal universal also applies to all things. Anything you can think of will, because of impermanence, end up non existing. Some may just vanish or be destroyed but most things will gradually change towards their non existence.

Now imagine you are a thing that experiences, in that case it follows from this third eternal universal that you will also change towards the negative and this will be a negative experience. Moreover, if as well as sentience, you have reason then you will easily be able to see how inevitable this negative change is.

The experience and understanding of this negative change is what is called Dukka. It is the stress and strain and conflict and disappointment inevitable in life.

It is ultimately casued by the illusionary ego desperate to satisfy and justify its illusionary existence.

The Buddha then discovered The Four Noble Truth's that explain this negative cycle ignorance-ego-self-satisfaction can be stopped and the self-caused negative effects of life can be extingusihed.

The way to do this, he said, is the Noble Eightfold Path.

I think he was right, but a big part of buddhism is seeing that foryouself.

Please, as you start your path, doubt all I and everyone says, question everything and be your own light:)

namaste

GuyC

To do what is good.
To avoid what is evil.
To purify the mind.
This is the teaching of all the Buddhas.

DJDanny

Thanks so much guys, this is great!

Cristina

Here are some books I've read and found very helpful.

How to Not Be Afraid of Your Own Life by Susan Piver
When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chodron
The Joy of Living by Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche
Joyful Wisdom by Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche
Turning the Mind into an Ally by Sakyong Mipham

Hmm, those are what come to mind right now... Not that it isn't more than enough to get you started! The first one on the list is the first one I read, I think, if that helps at all. I find that reading lots of books helps to deepen my knowledge on topics, and also reading a chapter or two each morning helps to keep me focused on the path.

And, as was already said, don't take anybody's word for anything! Experience it yourself, see for yourself. This is truly a way of life. Best wishes!

DhammaDhatu

Avoid evil (harming)
Cultivate the good (non-harming, giving safety & help)
Purify the mind (from judging & egoism)
This is the teaching of all Buddhas

To avoid all evil, to cultivate good and to cleanse one's mind — this is the teaching of the Buddhas.

Dhammapada

shenpennangwa

GuyC wrote: »

To do what is good.
To avoid what is evil.
To purify the mind.
This is the teaching of all the Buddhas.

Yes.

Arjquad

I've been reading parts if the Pali Canon, studying the four noble truths, the eightfold path and reciting some mantras and medatating some. Is there anything else I should be doing?

GuyC

I've been reading parts if the Pali Canon, studying the four noble truths, the eightfold path and reciting some mantras and medatating some. Is there anything else I should be doing?

The only other thing I would add is to practice the Noble Eightfold Path to the best of your ability. Meditation is important and study is potentially beneficial if it leads to Right View. But just as important (and perhaps the areas of least interest to many Western Buddhist converts) are Right Speech, Right Action and Right Livelihood.

Daozen

Buddhism cultivates wisdom and compassion via the practice of mindfulness.

Wisdom comes from realisation of impermanence; compassion, from realisatioin of interbeing. Via mindfulness, we cultivate these. If we are lucky, sometimes we do enlightened things. In these moments, we are a buddha. If we are disciplined about being mindful, we may attain this state frequently, perhaps even permanently.