Buddhism Tips
Read these 4 Buddhism Tips tips to make your life smarter, better, faster and wiser. Each tip is approved by our Editors and created by expert writers so great we call them Gurus. LifeTips is the place to go when you need to know about Religion tips and hundreds of other topics.
Who Founded Buddhism & When?
Prince Siddhartha Guatama (Buddha) was born in India in 563 BCE. At age 29, Guatama left his wife and children to seek spiritual enlightenment. He studied Brahmanism and nearly fasted to death, but came to reject this path. In 535 BCE, he believed himself to have reached enlightenment, assumed the title Buddha, and soon after began teaching about the pathway to enlightenment.
What is Buddhism?
The idea of a supreme creationist god is not relevant in Buddhist belief. Buddha is not revered as a god, but as a person who reached total enlightenment (or Nirvana). Buddhism teaches souls are liberated to Nirvana by reaching a state of selflessness though eliminating cravings, doing acts of kindness, doing no harm, and meditation.
Who is the Dalai Lama?
Today's Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, born in Tibet in 1935 is the 14th Dalai Lama. According to Tibetan tradition, the Dalai Lama is the reincarnation of the previous Dalai Lama, and the incarnation of Avalokiteshvara (the Buddha of Compassion). He is considered to be the highest-ranking Buddhist in Tibetan Buddhism, but is not officially recognized in other Buddhism branches.
What are Buddhism's Scriptures?
For the three major branches of Buddhism, each has their Scriptures. The Tripitaka is accepted throughout Buddhism, and is believed to contain teachings of the Buddha. The Mahayana branch adds Sutras (sacred texts), believed by Mahayana Buddhists to also contain sermons of the Buddha. Vajrayana Buddhism uses both the Tripitaka and Sutras, but also relies heavily on Tantric texts that deal with the nature of Ultimate Reality, and sexual issues.
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