According to some, Buddhism is not a religion. They consider Buddhism to be merely a philosophy, literature, science, spirituality, or way of life… Nothing in this world is perfect, yet what Buddha teaches is something that can bring us to perfection. “All Buddha teaches is to avoid evil, do good, and clear one’s mind.”
Buddhism can now be found all over the world. Many people are aware of it, and many people follow and practice it. The majority of Vietnamese youth were born abroad. Because the majority of this generation cannot read or write Vietnamese, I wanted to write some basic teachings and understandings of Buddhism in English. Many of our youngsters are rootless, disconnected from Vietnamese traditions, and unable to comprehend what Buddha teaches. They are cut off from Buddhism’s beauty and the possibility it teaches us to live a great life. Buddha encourages us to avoid extreme decisions and to take the Middle Path.
Buddha, also known as the Enlightened One, is neither a God nor a Creator. In India, Buddha was a prince. He was born in 624 BC and died in 544 BC. After attaining enlightenment, Buddha established Buddhism. He teaches us how to cease suffering, how to be liberated, and how to achieve Nirvana.
In a continually changing world, we need a new method, a revolution, in teaching Buddhism because the younger generations can’t read Vietnamese and didn’t grow up knowing how to speak and understand Vietnamese the way we did. When compared to my own generation, who grew up differently, the traditional way does not work for our children. To counteract this, we must develop new techniques for teaching Buddhism to our youngsters. This will allow our children to become absorbed in their culture, which will feel foreign at first but will not leave them rootless and disintegrated.
Buddhism in a nutshell
There are three gems known as triple gems in Buddhism: Buddha (the founder of Buddhism, also known as the enlightened one), Shanga (Buddhist monks and nuns), and Dhamma (Buddhist writings, bibles, and canons…).
Every Buddhist must seek shelter in Buddha, Dhamma, and Shanga. Furthermore, there are five principles that we must observe in life: do not kill, do not steal, do not lie, do not commit sexual misbehavior, and do not consume alcohol or drugs.
We seek refuge in the three gems and remember these five principles to live peacefully, calmly, cheerfully, and respectfully.
Suffering, the Cause of Suffering, the End of Suffering, and the Path to Ending Suffering are the four Noble Truths.
(Because life is filled with the sorrows of old age, sickness, death, misery, separation from loved ones, unpleasant confrontations, and denial of one’s desires…)
Right View, Right Intentions, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration are the Eight-Fold Paths (Right Ways).
This is the doctrine that must be understood and practiced. We can accomplish more positive things in life by doing so, such as donating, following the precepts, being patient, putting in effort, and concentrating.
Buddha continuously educates us on our ever-changing reality. It is termed impermanence because it changes every second. This is a realm of pain and emptiness (the lack of an independent self). We came to this planet to be rewarded and punished for our virtues and sins. Nobody can modify or bring down our lives; it is up to us to make our own decisions in our thoughts, acts, and statements. This is significant because our attitudes and thoughts influence our behaviors and speech. Westerners are fond of saying, “You reap what you sow.” It is quite similar to what Buddhism teaches: our karma is determined by our thoughts, words, and acts. They will return to hurt you based on how you conduct yourself and carry yourself as a person.
Why should we practice meditation?
Meditation is the primary and most effective method of practicing Buddhism; it cleanses and clears the mind. Meditation is widely popular in both the Mahayana and Theravada schools of Buddhism. We can meditate in a variety of situations, including sitting, walking, standing, and laying. However, sitting is the most effective way. We require a peaceful environment when practicing meditation. It is beneficial to sit in a comfortable position, relax your breathing, refrain from thinking/judging, and let everything go. Beginners should seek instruction from a teacher or zen master.
Sakyamuni Buddha employed meditation to achieve enlightenment and become the founder of Buddhism.
The Mahayana branch of Buddhism (Northern Buddhism) focuses on Amitabha. The Western Pure Land is the designation given to Buddha and his universe. Followers believe that by practicing this way, they will be reborn in the Western Pure Land after death.
Diet in Buddhism
Buddhist monks and nuns in the Theravada branch must eat anything donated or offered by Buddhists. This is a very important issue in the Mahayana branch. Almost all monks and nuns abstain from eating meat their entire lives. Buddhists have various options; some choose to go meatless for a few days a month, monthly, weekly, annually, or even for the remainder of their life. Going vegetarian expresses our compassion and respect for all living things.
What does Buddhism have to offer?
Buddhists read Buddhist literature, bibles, chants, and meditate–the finest gifts that Buddhism has to teach and impart. Fresh flowers, fruits, natural lighting, water, and scents are frequently utilized as tributes to Buddha. Flowers and fruits reflect both the cause and the effect. Buddha’s wisdom is represented by light. Water reflects Buddha’s purity. Fragrance represents Buddha’s virtue. Buddha’s perfect offering to us is the lessons we must study and follow. Buddha advises us not to kill, steal, engage in sexual immorality, lie, or use alcohol or drugs. It is critical that we exhibit no support or satisfaction in their actions.
Offerings in Buddhism should not be made with the expectation of receiving something in return. Wealth, health, luck, or special benefits should be expected simply for making offerings to Buddha. Offerings merely teach us to respect Buddha as much as possible.
Buddhism and mindfulness
Buddhism places a high value on mindfulness. Being mindful is being conscious of one’s actions. We are completely aware of what we are doing, thinking, and saying.
Mindfulness is taught in Buddhism to teach compassion, tolerance, wisdom, and the ability to let go. Followers will eventually learn to achieve peace, serenity, and happiness in their lives with practice. Learning about mindfulness teaches us how to be better in this life while also developing a higher state of being in the next.
The significance of the Buddhist flag
The color blue represents the concepts of loving-kindness and tranquility. The color yellow represents the Middle Path. The color red represents success, intelligence, and virtue. The color white represents purity and liberation. Finally, the color orange represents the essence of Buddhism, which is full of wisdom, strength, and dignity.
Thanh Nguyen
Ất Lăng thành, 06/22