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| Buddhism Continues To Grow by: Herndon L. Davis |
It’s over 2,500 years old consisting of over 700 million followers and stands as the fourth
largest religion in the world. It is called Buddhism. With such an aged history and numbered
following, what exactly is the attraction, foundation, and the creation of this religion? But
more importantly, just who was Buddha, and what has the world gained from his insight,
journey, and transformation?
At his birth, it was predicted that Buddha, then known as Siddhārtha Gautama, would one
day become a universal ruler, world teacher or a great holy man. Hence, his father sheltered
his life by raising him in excessive luxury, with no sight or sound of human suffering, hoping
to tempt him away from the religious path so that he might instead become a great king.
But, at the age of twenty-nine, Siddhārtha ventured in a chariot beyond the palace walls
where he saw an old crippled man, a sick man, a corpse and a wandering monk. This is
when he discovered his destiny. Siddhārtha would forsake his wife and young son to
wander the earth as a holy man in search of the answer to the problems of birth, old age,
pain, sickness, and death.
largest religion in the world. It is called Buddhism. With such an aged history and numbered
following, what exactly is the attraction, foundation, and the creation of this religion? But
more importantly, just who was Buddha, and what has the world gained from his insight,
journey, and transformation?
At his birth, it was predicted that Buddha, then known as Siddhārtha Gautama, would one
day become a universal ruler, world teacher or a great holy man. Hence, his father sheltered
his life by raising him in excessive luxury, with no sight or sound of human suffering, hoping
to tempt him away from the religious path so that he might instead become a great king.
But, at the age of twenty-nine, Siddhārtha ventured in a chariot beyond the palace walls
where he saw an old crippled man, a sick man, a corpse and a wandering monk. This is
when he discovered his destiny. Siddhārtha would forsake his wife and young son to
wander the earth as a holy man in search of the answer to the problems of birth, old age,
pain, sickness, and death.
| The Exploration Begins |
Siddhārtha tried to find the answers by living an ascetic life, practicing vigorous techniques of physical and mental
austerity. He first began through learning extensive meditation techniques. After training under two renowned teachers,
Brahmin hermits Alara Kalama and Udraka Ramaputra, Siddhārtha outgrew his mentors by reaching extreme levels of
meditative consciousness. However, he still felt that he had not reached the highest level of realization just yet.
Later on Siddhārtha experimented with extreme fasting techniques but nearly died in the process. Fearing that he might die
before his illumination, Siddhārtha began to eat moderate food in order to survive. He sat under a pipal tree, referred to as
the Bodhi tree, and vowed never to rise until he had found the Truth. This is when he discovered what is now known as
the Middle Way – or a path of moderation away from the extremes of life such as self-indulgence and self-mortification.
At the age of thirty-five, the Siddhārtha had finally achieved enlightenment. He had finally found the state of perfect bliss,
knowledge, and awakening and became a Buddha which means enlightened one.
austerity. He first began through learning extensive meditation techniques. After training under two renowned teachers,
Brahmin hermits Alara Kalama and Udraka Ramaputra, Siddhārtha outgrew his mentors by reaching extreme levels of
meditative consciousness. However, he still felt that he had not reached the highest level of realization just yet.
Later on Siddhārtha experimented with extreme fasting techniques but nearly died in the process. Fearing that he might die
before his illumination, Siddhārtha began to eat moderate food in order to survive. He sat under a pipal tree, referred to as
the Bodhi tree, and vowed never to rise until he had found the Truth. This is when he discovered what is now known as
the Middle Way – or a path of moderation away from the extremes of life such as self-indulgence and self-mortification.
At the age of thirty-five, the Siddhārtha had finally achieved enlightenment. He had finally found the state of perfect bliss,
knowledge, and awakening and became a Buddha which means enlightened one.
| The Basics of Buddhism |
Like most religions, Buddhism has had its share of schisms and splinter groups which occurred on issues such as the
depth of discipline, interpretation, and tradition. In addition, like most religions, nothing was written down until many
years after Buddha’s death. Much of the religion was oral for at least a couple hundred years. Today there exist three
branches of Buddhism, Theravāda, Mahāyāna, and Vajrayāna.
Theravāda – This the earliest form of Buddhism. It emphasizes perfecting one's life and thereby reaching enlightenment.
Largely found in Southeast Asia, Thailand, Burma, Cambodia and Laos.
Mahāyāna – Referring to itself as the “Great Vehicle”, this branch grew out of the Theravāda and emphasizes infinite,
universal compassion. Largely found in China, Japan, Korea, Tibet and Mongolia.
Vajrayāna – Referring to itself as the “Diamond Vehicle” it shares many of the same beliefs as Mahāyāna but incorporates
an extensive number of spiritual techniques such as ways to utilize psycho-physical energy. Practiced primarily in Tibet,
Nepal, Bhutan, Mongolia, Kalmykia, Siberia, and in some areas of India. For the most part these branches agree on a basic
set of tenets described below:
depth of discipline, interpretation, and tradition. In addition, like most religions, nothing was written down until many
years after Buddha’s death. Much of the religion was oral for at least a couple hundred years. Today there exist three
branches of Buddhism, Theravāda, Mahāyāna, and Vajrayāna.
Theravāda – This the earliest form of Buddhism. It emphasizes perfecting one's life and thereby reaching enlightenment.
Largely found in Southeast Asia, Thailand, Burma, Cambodia and Laos.
Mahāyāna – Referring to itself as the “Great Vehicle”, this branch grew out of the Theravāda and emphasizes infinite,
universal compassion. Largely found in China, Japan, Korea, Tibet and Mongolia.
Vajrayāna – Referring to itself as the “Diamond Vehicle” it shares many of the same beliefs as Mahāyāna but incorporates
an extensive number of spiritual techniques such as ways to utilize psycho-physical energy. Practiced primarily in Tibet,
Nepal, Bhutan, Mongolia, Kalmykia, Siberia, and in some areas of India. For the most part these branches agree on a basic
set of tenets described below:
| The Four Noble Truths |
During his life, the Buddha taught that life was inherently suffering. In his first sermon he explained the causes of human
suffering and gave instructions how to end it.
1. Dukkha: This acknowledges that suffering exists. From birth, to aging, to death, we all suffer.
2. Samudaya: This is the origin of our suffering. It is the craving for pleasures to which we have become accustomed
and attached, which leads to a renewed existence (reincarnation). The suffering continues because our craving continues.
3. Nirodha: This is the end to our suffering. The cessation of suffering is the cessation of our craving as we enter into
final liberation of Nirvana. The mind experiences complete freedom, liberation and non-attachment to things or pleasures.
4. Magga: These are the eight steps to follow in order to end our suffering: The Noble Eightfold Path.
suffering and gave instructions how to end it.
1. Dukkha: This acknowledges that suffering exists. From birth, to aging, to death, we all suffer.
2. Samudaya: This is the origin of our suffering. It is the craving for pleasures to which we have become accustomed
and attached, which leads to a renewed existence (reincarnation). The suffering continues because our craving continues.
3. Nirodha: This is the end to our suffering. The cessation of suffering is the cessation of our craving as we enter into
final liberation of Nirvana. The mind experiences complete freedom, liberation and non-attachment to things or pleasures.
4. Magga: These are the eight steps to follow in order to end our suffering: The Noble Eightfold Path.
| The Noble Eightfold Path |
In order to end our human suffering we must embody, evoke, and live out our lives through eight steps. In doing so, we
gain wisdom, morality and meditative concentration.
1. Right View and Understanding – We must first recognize and accept the Four Noble Truths.
2. Right Thought and Intention – We must make a commitment to living and growing mentally and ethically in
moderation.
3. Right Speech or Talk – We must not gossip, or deliberately speak in a hurtful, exaggerated, or untruthful way.
4. Right Action and Behavior – We must live our lives in a wholesome manner avoiding any behavior that would hurt
others.
5. Right Livelihood and Profession – We must work jobs that do not harm ourselves or others either directly or
indirectly (i.e weapon maker, drug dealer, etc.)
6. Right Effort and Exertion – We must make an effort to always improve our lives.
7. Right Mindfulness – We must have a clear mental capacity to see things for what they are with crystal clear clarity of
consciousness.
8. Right Concentration – Finally this is the state where we reach enlightenment and our ego and greed has disappeared.
gain wisdom, morality and meditative concentration.
1. Right View and Understanding – We must first recognize and accept the Four Noble Truths.
2. Right Thought and Intention – We must make a commitment to living and growing mentally and ethically in
moderation.
3. Right Speech or Talk – We must not gossip, or deliberately speak in a hurtful, exaggerated, or untruthful way.
4. Right Action and Behavior – We must live our lives in a wholesome manner avoiding any behavior that would hurt
others.
5. Right Livelihood and Profession – We must work jobs that do not harm ourselves or others either directly or
indirectly (i.e weapon maker, drug dealer, etc.)
6. Right Effort and Exertion – We must make an effort to always improve our lives.
7. Right Mindfulness – We must have a clear mental capacity to see things for what they are with crystal clear clarity of
consciousness.
8. Right Concentration – Finally this is the state where we reach enlightenment and our ego and greed has disappeared.
| Less Religious, More Spiritual |
Copyrighted 2006
Herndon Davis is an author, lecturer, and TV/Radio Host of The Herndon Davis Reports. He can be reached
directly at http://herndondavis.com
Herndon Davis is an author, lecturer, and TV/Radio Host of The Herndon Davis Reports. He can be reached
directly at http://herndondavis.com
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Finally, unlike other mainstream religions, Buddhism doesn’t subscribe to a specific deity or God, instead it believes in
personal transcendence. The 8 paths of living it encourages are more spiritual and even universal as it seeks to banish
the greed, ego, and hurtfulness that humans tend to inflict upon one another.
Buddhism also teaches that we ourselves are responsible for our happiness and/or suffering. It describes a cause-and-
effect system where what we experience is dependent directly upon our previous actions. Good moral actions and
behaviors will lead to happy states of being and bad moral actions and behaviors will lead to future suffering.
Hence no one can escape the responsibility of their actions which is the basis for karma which literally means ‘action’.
Thus Buddhists believe in being reborn into realms that are not necessarily human based upon a person’s previous
actions and behaviors.
Buddhists believe that there exist six different realms: the hell worlds, the realm of the hungry ghosts, the animal world,
the human realm, the realm of the jealous gods, and the heavens.
Finally, there are several Buddhist scriptures for study. There’s the Pali Canon, which is the earliest recorded writings
of the religion. Then there are later scriptures such as the Lotus Sutra, which has particular significance for the
Mahayana tradition, then the Heart Sutra, the Diamond Sutra, and the Platform Sutra.
In general Buddhism provides an enormous treasure of spiritual guidance combined with principled moral precepts with
an emphasis on gaining insight, wisdom and enlightenment for the rest of the world to follow.
personal transcendence. The 8 paths of living it encourages are more spiritual and even universal as it seeks to banish
the greed, ego, and hurtfulness that humans tend to inflict upon one another.
Buddhism also teaches that we ourselves are responsible for our happiness and/or suffering. It describes a cause-and-
effect system where what we experience is dependent directly upon our previous actions. Good moral actions and
behaviors will lead to happy states of being and bad moral actions and behaviors will lead to future suffering.
Hence no one can escape the responsibility of their actions which is the basis for karma which literally means ‘action’.
Thus Buddhists believe in being reborn into realms that are not necessarily human based upon a person’s previous
actions and behaviors.
Buddhists believe that there exist six different realms: the hell worlds, the realm of the hungry ghosts, the animal world,
the human realm, the realm of the jealous gods, and the heavens.
Finally, there are several Buddhist scriptures for study. There’s the Pali Canon, which is the earliest recorded writings
of the religion. Then there are later scriptures such as the Lotus Sutra, which has particular significance for the
Mahayana tradition, then the Heart Sutra, the Diamond Sutra, and the Platform Sutra.
In general Buddhism provides an enormous treasure of spiritual guidance combined with principled moral precepts with
an emphasis on gaining insight, wisdom and enlightenment for the rest of the world to follow.