The word Buddha means the Awakened One. In Sanskrit Bodha means knowledge. He is a man who has woken fully, as if from a deep sleep, to discover that suffering, like a dream, is over.
Buddha doesn’t call him a God or an incarnation of the God. He doesn’t prefer to talk about the Soul or Atma and Permatma. He even doesn’t talk about Sristi or Creation. In act, Buddha was a remarkable human being, who discovered a way of achieving true wisdom, compassion and freedom from suffering. He rediscovered an ancient way that had been covered up and forgotten. Through his own efforts he was able to find the way out of suffering to liberation, and those that have followed him have kept that way open.
Buddha taught the middle-path to humanity. He himself has gone through the extremities of humanity, like poverty and suffering as well as a luxurious and rich life of the palace. The main doctrine that Buddha teaches is Appo Dipo Bhava or Become the Light yourself, which means that you have to rediscover the Truth for yourself. The fundamental Buddhist doctrines include the following:
The Chain of Causation and Effect:
Buddhism is based on the principle of cause and effect. Nothing happens without the cause, it goes on saying. This important doctrine teaches the interconnectedness of all things and in particular the law of Karma and the mechanism by which we create a world of suffering for ourselves and others, and the opposite; the way to live that reduces suffering for all, and thereby leads to liberation.
Three fundamental principles of existence:
1. Dukha (Suffering): Suffering and dissatisfaction is universal. Everybody suffers in this world. The characteristics of the Existence. This world is imperfect, so we are not satisfied by worldly things.
2. Impermanence: Everything in this world is impermanent of subject to change. This the universal truth in this world that nothing is permanent or fixed.
3. No-I or Anatta: There is nothing called a fixed self or Soul, that exists in this universe.
Triratnam (Three Jewels):
1. Buddhal Sharanam Gachhami (Take refuge to the Guru)
2. Dhammam Sharanam Gachhami (Study appropriate scriptures)
3. Sangham Sharanam Gachhami (Right companion)
The Four Noble Truths
(1) Suffering exists: The Noble Truth of Suffering.
(2) Reason of Suffering: There is certain factors which are responsible for our suffering.
(3) Means to end suffering: The third Noble Truth is that there are ways for the cessation of Suffering
(4) Way out from suffering: The final Noble Truth is that there are certain condition which is beyond suffering and that is attainable.
The Eight fold path to Liberation:
(1) Right View means to watch things in a neutral way without bias.
(2) Right Thought means to contemplate on right views.
(3) Right Speech means not to heart others by speech or be polite while speaking
(4) Right Action means to act in a balanced way without being biased.
(5) Right Livelihood meaning to earn livelihood through right means.
(6) Right Effort: To practice doing right things and speaking the truth.
(7) Right Mindfulness: To be aware of one’s own body, mind and emotions.
(8) Right Meditation or Samadhi: To practice right kinds of meditation so as to attain Samadhi.
(By Shirish Ballav Pradhan)
