Introduction
A Brief Summary
"From my perspective, Buddhism is not a religion that demands blind faith in dogmatic beliefs. Neither is it a philosophy that traps us in an idealized world, nor a cultural phenomenon that stubbornly clings to old traditions. Buddhism, in fact, is a systematic methodology of practices through which we free others and ourselves from suffering and attain real happiness.
True happiness is achieved through the direct understanding of the way things are, through compassionately working for the ultimate happiness of others and through confidently developing our previously dormant capacity for enlightenment.
All of this is based on the understanding of selflessness, which is the foundation of Buddhism."
Trungram Gyaltrul Rinpoche
The best explanation of the Buddha's teachings is summarized in the Sanskrit word "dharma" which means "the way things are." At the age of 35, after six years of deep meditation, Buddha perceived the true nature of mind. This realization is the definition of awareness - moving beyond the obstructions of ego and self absorption in order to see clearly and simply the way things truly are. Awareness is both the path and the final goal of all Buddhist teachings.
Buddha was a human being, nothing more. When asked by a follower who he was, he answered with a simple truth: "I am awake." He was a human being who had discovered, through hard work and patience, a path to a freedom of mind which released him from the fear, clinging and drive for personal security that lies at the heart of how humans live.
This freedom of mind is called Liberation or Enlightenment. It is an experience of seeing directly, in that moment before ideas, thoughts, beliefs, emotions and ego filter or shape our experience. Though impossible to express satisfactorily in words, when one achieves enlightenment it can be seen as the ultimate in mental calmness, inexpressible joy and unfettered clarity.
Meditation and the associated teachings are the tools that help us gain the ability and the confidence to 'let go' and realize this kind of total awareness. At first we glimpse it in brief flashes during quiet sitting. Then, over time, we learn how to extend our experience - to maintain it through our daily life. The Buddhist practice of 'being present in the moment' or mindfulness, is a fundamental part of bringing our meditation experience into everything we do.
Philosophy, Psychology or Religion?
Buddhism is considered one of the world's great religions. After Buddha's death, his teachings spread through many cultures and integrated into many traditions throughout Asia.
Human cultures naturally surround spiritual pursuits with symbols and structures to focus one's attention. Buddhism is no different, and over time it has integrated many aspects of ritual into the process of teaching: monasteries and temples, special clothes, statues, altars, incense and even sacred destinations for pilgrimage. Because of this, Buddhism looks like a full-blown religion to many in the west.
At its core, however, Buddhism hardly matches to our usual standards for religions: it does not relate to an external God (Buddha is revered as a teacher, but not anointed as a deity); it has no dogmas or belief systems; it is not exclusive. Buddhism encourages practitioners to take nothing on faith but to use the teachings as a way of 'working things out for yourself.'
The point on which Buddhism intersects with other religions is the point on which all great spiritual pursuits rest - the inner exploration of that which transcends our daily experience. We intuitively recognize that there is more to know about life, death, and the totality of our experience as a human being.
Instead of a religion, it is better to view Buddhism as a way of life, a path. It is a process of continually building on one's existing capacity for clear, unobstructed seeing and compassion for others. It is most accurate to understand Buddhism as an astonishing, practical arrangement of teachings which combines physical, psychological and philosophical disciplines that lead to physical and spiritual health.
The path can simply promote stress reduction through basic meditation or it can take a practitioner to the ultimate spiritual awakening of full enlightenment.
Flowering of Buddhism in the West
In recent centuries, all flavors of Buddhism have been introduced to the West and some other parts of the world. Buddhism easily translates to new parts of the world because it is centered on teachings that benefit others here and now.
Its teachings are not rooted in a particular land, race or culture. They do not belong to a certain people nor do they define a group as 'belonging' in opposition to 'non-believers'.
Buddhism is also attractive to people everywhere because it has no history of force. Never in over 2500 years has force been associated with Buddhism. Dialogues, debates and self-discovery through teaching and practice: these account for the spread of Buddhism. The teachings flourish wherever there is a need or desire.
And in the United States, the conditions seem right for the wide introduction of Buddhist teachings. We are a society that places a high value on self-reliance, individuality and resourcefulness. And yet we are also struggling with a sense of dislocation related to the stress of modern living and brittleness of a consumer society.
Buddhism answers both aspects of life in the West by providing us a means to probe below the surface of our daily experience while leveraging our capacity for individual pursuit. Most importantly, it is the ultimate advocate of non-violence and inner peace in an increasingly violent world.
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