What is Buddhism?

Too ask the question what is Buddhism is to ask the question that has no easy answer.

Most religions make claims to have been born from and originated in Heaven. With regards to Buddhism it is thought that Buddhism had begun from an enlightened man from this earth of which transcended the heavens.

Is Buddhism a philosophy, is it a religion or can it be surmised as a simple way of living one’s life? I don’t think you can easily fit it into a mold that fully explains the nature and property of the Buddhist mind. Does it include philosophy? Does it include religion? Does it include a way of living ones life? Yes it does encompass all these and much more. To limit its meaning is to limit the scope of its true essence.

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Throughout history various labels and interpretations have been laid at the feet of Buddhism. To some that are intellectuals Buddhism is purely a system of thought to help explain the complexities and nature of human existence and help lead us to important scientific discoveries. To some it is considered nothing more than a collection of superstitious practices. To the many that devotedly follow the teachings of Buddhism it is the fulfillment of all their spiritual and material desires and aspirations. As in this last ideal Buddhism can be considered a truly noble way of living ones life.

If you were to ask an intellectual what is Buddhism, they may see it as a byproduct of its Indian heritage or just another type of religious teaching consistent with the morals and values of its society and people. I don’t think that you can categorize it in such a manner. One could say that Buddhism is the embodiment of the Absolute Noble Truth, an intellectual look at reality. But the Buddha did not come to his understanding of our universal problems purely through the use of intellect and the rational mind it was also reached through the purification of his body and his mind. This makes the Buddha unique among many other spiritual leaders.

Probably the closest way to define what is Buddhism would be to refer it to being the Noble Truth. Buddha taught from the point of practicality, which was based on his understanding of the nature and his realizations of truth. He urged all that would follow to really see things as they truly are, to lift the veil of illusion and experience the vision of absolute truth and wisdom not only from an intellectual pursuit but also from a deeper understanding and knowing.

Buddha’s teachings were not developed to perpetuate the concept of self and to create in people the need for more cravings for eternal life and pleasures of the senses. Instead he tried to point out the abject futility of living a worldly existence and tried to introduce a path that led to salvation through the disassociation from these worldly wants and desires.

Living the Buddhist way of life can be surmised as a practical scientific and religious way of life, which leads one to spiritual enlightenment through the teachings that revealed and gave people the opportunity to open their minds freely and experience the true nature of reality and our place in this grand scheme of things.

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