Buddhism 101: Planting the Lotus (765 hits)
Category: GeneralRating: 0.75 on 14 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by d'ohnuts (View user info) at 2004-03-05 11:02:55 EST
Some 2500 years ago, Siddhartha Gautama of the Shakyamuni clan in India sat down to meditate on the nature of human existence. From his meditations came Buddhism (derived from the word "buddha" meaning "enlightened one").
There are more than 50 different branches, schools, or "types" of Buddhism. Many of these differences are the result of Buddhism's assimilation of indigenous religious practices and cultural beliefs as the budding philosphy spread around the world. Tibetan Buddhism and Pure Land are examples of the more mystical schools of Buddhism. Zen Buddhism (which can further be divided into the Rinzai and Soto sects) is one of the more austere forms. Some schools worship the Buddha as a god, while others--in keeping with his original teachings--respect him only as a venerable teacher.
Central to all of the branches of Buddhism, regardless of any other aspects that differentiate them, are the Four Noble Truths of human existence and the Noble Eightfold path, which the Buddha discussed in his first sermon in Deer Park after his enlightenment.
The Four Noble Truths:
1) Dukkha: Traditionally translated as "suffering", but encompassing the concepts of longing,
sorrow, needing, and emptiness. Dukkha is the core condition of human existence.
2) The Origin of Dukkha: Dukkha stems from our attachment, desire, and craving for things.
This includes the attachment to transitory pleasant experiences and sensations; the desire for
fame, fortune, and recognition; and the desire to rid ourselves of all unpleasant experiences.
Attachment and desire are the product of conditioning. Much like Pavlov's dogs, we are
conditioned by experience to be drawn to the pleasant and averse to the unpleasant. Dukkha
arises from the impossibility of ever fully satisfying one's desires.
3) The Cessation of Dukkha: Dukkha can be overcome by freeing ourselves from attachment to the
objects of our desire; not by abandoning them all together, but rather coming to the
understanding that all states--pleasant and unpleasant--are transitory, and being able to
experience them both with equanimity.
4) The Path to the Cessation of Dukkha: Overcoming dukkha is possible by following the Noble
Eightfold Path. The path consists of Right Understanding, Right Thought, Right Speech, Right
Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration.
It is important to note at least two things: 1) The Eightfold path was not asserted to be the only path to achieve enlightenment and spiritual fulfillment, but rather a proven path. The Buddha maintained that his was merely one path of many, and that people should find the one that works best for them. 2) The core teachings of the Buddha do not address or endorse the existence, or lack thereof, of an all powerful god.
User Reviews
Submitted by Judoka (user info) at 2004-05-14 11:52:28 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
This was quite good.
Submitted by whataefag (user info) at 2004-04-16 15:21:07 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
This made me dust off my poorly translated Dhammapada ...
Submitted by dohnuts (user info) at 2004-03-08 09:18:35 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Thank you, sir.
Submitted by NetProphet (user info) at 2004-03-08 09:10:33 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
A well-written, informative post. Come on, ladies and gentlemen; not every post needs to knock your socks off or make you piss your pants laughing... sometimes it's good enough to have a valid point of interest. Better than a lot of the terrible attempts at humour I've seen around here, many of which are solely sophomoric and offensive.
Glad to see everyone rated it as being at least worth reading, though I'd give the author a little more credit (and I do, +1) for researching and posting on a mildly controversial topic.
Submitted by Faceless (user info) at 2004-03-08 08:50:35 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Rock and Roll Nigger
-Faceless like you
Submitted by dohnuts (user info) at 2004-03-08 08:24:27 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by seanfogy (user info) at 2004-03-05 11:13:22 (#)
Ranking: 0
not to be a dick or anything, but...is there a point to this post?
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Nope, no point to this post really... although if I was hard-pressed to supply one, it would be this: I have been lurking around Uber for about a year and a half now, and I must say, in the last couple of months, things seem to have taken a turn for the worse. It seems like a lot of functionally retarded people have started posting reems upon reems of just pure garbage. Which got me thinking, if I could post one and only one thing, what would it be? I settled on this post because it contains a message near and dear to my heart, and because someone just may read it and come away having learned something. Christ, I actually feel dumber for having read some of the pure shite that's been finding its way on to Uber lately...
Submitted by stevo_69 (user info) at 2004-03-05 21:23:29 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
refreshing
Submitted by Bennywild (user info) at 2004-03-05 18:04:59 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
An informative religious post that's not about Jesus or the Church.
Submitted by seanfogy (user info) at 2004-03-05 11:54:09 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
oh, you got jokes?
Three monks decided to practice meditation together. They sat by the side of a lake and closed their eyes in concentration. Then suddenly, the first one stood up and said, "I forgot my mat." He stepped miraculously onto the water in front of him and walked across the lake to their hut on the other side.
When he returned, the second monk stood up and said, "I forgot to put my underwear in the dryer." He too walked calmly across the water and returned the same way. The third monk watched the first two carefully in what he decided must be the test of his own abilities. "Is your learning so superior to mine? I too can match any feat you two can perform," he declared loudly and rushed to the water's edge to walk across it. He promptly fell into the deep water.
Undeterred, the yogi climbed out of the water and tried again, only to sink into the water. Yet again he climbed out and yet again he tried, each time sinking into the water. This went on for some time as the other two monks watched.
After a while, the second monk turned to the first and said, "Do you think we should tell him where the stones are?"
Submitted by loki (user info) at 2004-03-05 11:32:24 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
One day a young Buddhist was on a journey when he came to an impassibly large rushing river. As he sat pondering what to do and fearing that his journey would end in failure, he saw a great teacher on the other side. He jumped up and down to get his attention and yelled across, "oh great one, how do I get to the other side of the river". The wise teacher thought for a moment and yelled back, "my son, you are on the other side."
http://www.ubersite.com/m/21667#318310
oh damnit I can't find the rest
Why don't Buddhist play in jam bands?
because they have no soul
A Buddhist goes to a hotdog vendor and asks him to make him "one with everything".
The vendor complies. The Buddhist hands him a $20 which the vendor puts into his register and shuts it. The Buddhist says, "hey what about my change" and the vendor says, "change comes from within".
Why can't Buddhists vacuum the stairs?
Because they have no attachments.
Ok, I'm finished now.
Submitted by lowsodiummonkey (user info) at 2004-03-05 11:28:19 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
McGhuddhism is the only one true religion.
http://www.ubersite.com/m/26321
Submitted by seanfogy (user info) at 2004-03-05 11:13:22 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
not to be a dick or anything, but...is there a point to this post?
Submitted by audjgirl (user info) at 2004-03-05 11:09:11 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
LOKIIIII! WHERE ARE YOU!?
Submitted by hcp28 (user info) at 2004-03-05 11:06:51 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
ummm... okay