Buddhism was founded over 2,500 years ago by Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha. Born a prince, he left his palace at the age of 29 to find enlightenment; a way out of mankind's endless round of birth, suffering and death. He left behind a wife and a newborn son. Siddhartha turned to a life of severe austerity as a spiritual recluse or ascetic. A life that brought him to the brink of death from starvation. It was then that he realized that the path to enlightenment was inbetween the two opposite extremes and Buddhism draws together the benefits of both.
Siddhartha then sat beneath a pipal (bodhi) tree determined not to rise until he achieved complete enlightenment or Nirvana; which he did. The Buddha was a strong critic of the religions and caste system of India at the time. He steered away from religious ceremonies and questions. The Buddha wouldn't answer metaphysical or theological questions, either. He left that to the Brahmans and stated that none of those questions or topics had anything to do with the path to and the attainment of Nirvana - the state in which, birth, suffering and death are no more.
The Buddha was a rare individual who cautioned strongly against blind faith and dogma. He encouraged his followers to think for themselves and to take responsibility for one's present and future.
During the Buddha's ministry and teaching of 45 years he advocated a life devoted to universal love, compassion and brotherhood over religious beliefs and religious ceremonies. Through such living, along with meditation, anyone could reach the ultimate goal, a state where pain and suffering cease - Nirvana. Through a life full of compassion and love for all sentient beings, one achieves liberation; a freedom from selfish cravings sought by the ascetic and the sense of satisfaction that surpass anything obtained by indulgence and pleasure. There is a common conception that Buddhism is a pessimistic religion with the focus on suffering. But that is not true. Buddhism is merely realistic. The Buddha never said everything in life was suffering, only that we suffered in our lives. This is a universal truth.
With Nirvana being the goal of Buddhism, and the need for meditation to overcome pain, suffering and sorrow, many mistakenly think that Buddhism is a faith that encourages withdrawal from the world. Nirvana isn't sought for oneself alone though; it's regarded as a unity of the individual self (which really doesn't exist) with the universal self in which all things take part. The ego is the illusion. When the ego can be destroyed the universal, true self is found again. Ironically, an ego is needed to achieve Nirvana. In the Mahayana School of Buddhism, the person seeking enlightenment, takes a vow (the Bodhisattva Vow) not to accept final release until all sentient beings have also attained complete enlightenment. This is the Bodhisattva.
At the heart of Buddhism are the Three Jewels, the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path. Buddhism places a strong emphasis on balance between learning, practicing and meditating. Anyone who has taken the Three Jewels (The Ti~sarana) is considered a Buddhist.
It is interesting to note, just as Jesus' teachings didn't take hold in Israel, neither did the Buddhas' in India. Instead they spread in different forms north through Tibet to China, Korea and Japan. In the south they spread to Sri Lanka and Souteast Asia. In Vietnam, both influences can be seen.
Buddhism has remained so strong as it has a wonderful ability to adapt to any land without compromising its essence and core teachings. It's estimated that roughly one-third of the earth's population follows the teachings of the Buddha.
Some may argue that Buddhism today, with all its ceremony, ritual, etc. is not at all what the Buddha intended. But alot of these were incorporated into Buddhism from the land it went to. Also, many of the ceremonies and rituals actually serve to focus the mind and draw out and reinforce the Buddha-Nature in all of us.
Much Maitri!
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