I would like to know how much do you know about Buddhism ?

Well, I study buddhism at the college ! (my college have some courses for moralities as well)
So, I really feel like i was enlightened Lol !
Thus, I would like to ask how much do you know about Buddhism ?

Posted 7 months ago

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buffalotus

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

[Feel free to use this for your term paper, Bonjour Lamour.
These words are my own.]

Buddhists believe we were born in original purity, like a clear mirror that has been covered by layers of dust from life’s experiences.

The practice of Buddhism is to clear away those layers of dust or obscurations to get back to our original pure mind.

Buddhists believe that life is suffering however, that is only one of Four Noble Truths which are the foundation of Buddhism. They are:

1) Everyone experiences suffering in life
2) The cause of suffering is attachment
3) Happiness is attainable by ending the cycle of suffering
4) The path to happiness is through self-improvement

The attachments cause obscurations or 'kleshas' that cover one’s pure mind. They are habitual greed, anger, lust, jealousy, sloth, ignorance and pride. (Lust means desiring someone inappropriately, like another person’s partner).

Buddhism teaches specific practices to gradually get us out of our cycle of suffering (samsara). This process results in ‘Aha’ moments of Realization or ‘Rigpa’.

The result of this process is enlightenment. Anyone who claims ‘I have attained Enlightenment’ has not, because in saying so, they are displaying Pride, which is one of the obscurations.

These practices of self-improvement include meditation, mantra recitation, visualization practice, chanting prayer
texts and much more.

Doing the practices is essential. If you are given all these great techniques to develop yourself but you don’t use them, nothing will improve in your mind or in your life.

It’s like if you get a weight training machine with great plans to get into shape. You get busy and you don’t use it. One day you look at yourself in the mirror and say “This weight training machine isn’t improving my body at all. It’s worthless.” The blame is misplaced, isn't it?

It’s the same with Buddhism. You have to do the practice in order to get the results.

As in college, you learn the general subjects first then you specialize later. In Buddhism, you do the basic practices first, then when you are ready, you need a teacher or guru or lama who ‘prescribes’ special practices for you to do, according to your specific needs.

There are 3 yanas or vehicles of Buddhism:

Hinayana (also called Theravada or The Basic or Lesser Vehicle, practiced in Southeast Asia) Hinayana is the fundamental practices on which the other forms of Buddhism is based. It enables you to improve your life with each incarnation and to reach enlightenment in 100 lifetimes.

Mahayana (or the Great Vehicle, practiced in North Asia). Mahayana is the practice of the Six Perfections. It enables you to reach enlightenment in your next lifetime.

Vajrayana (also called Esoteric or Tibetan Buddhism or the Diamond Vehicle , practiced in Tibet, India and since the early 70’s has practitioners worldwide)
Vajrayana with its combined practices, has the special component of Empowerments or Transmissions. It enables you to reach enlightenment in this lifetime.

My teacher explained it like this: Hinayana is like a horse
cart. Mahayana is like a car. Vajrayana is like a spaceship. All will get you to your destination but with varying degrees of speed.

The Golden Rosary refers to the lineage of oral instruction passed from master to disciple which traces its origin back to the Buddha Shakyamuni.

When a lama gives a teaching, he begins with. ‘I was taught this by my teacher ___, who was taught by his teacher___’and so on back to the Buddha Shakyamuni.

I am of the Karma Kagyu school of Vajrayana Buddhism. My teachers are the teachers of His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, at whose feet I have been practicing in India and Tibet.

I dedicate this to the enlightenment of all sentient beings.

[If there are any mistakes herein, they are my own and not my teachers'.

Posted 7 months ago

Other 12 Answers to I would like to know how much do you know about Buddhism ?

amigos	Posted Apr 1st, 2009 at 6:59PM Buddhism believes in freeing oneself from all earthly desires, & in the process attain a state of enlightment known as "Nirvana" - Free from suffering & individual existence. Is it possible to reach such a state? Let me know if you know if you discover one. Rated: +2Vote for this!
LunarPanda	Posted Apr 1st, 2009 at 6:59PM I have been studying Eastern Thought now for about 40 yrs now, but I don't know how knowledgeable I am about it. LOL I have read many of the Dalai Lama's books, Lama Govinda and some others. I feel like I understand Hindu thought better than Buddhism. However, Mahayana Buddhism is a very deep and intricate philosophy. I honestly don't understand Zen. I think you probably must practice that with a strict master. I meditate, but I am still West European/American trying to go against my natural tendencies, I guess. I do find it fascinating and edifying. I feel that I have learned alot and am a better person for it, but there is such a long way to go. Rated: +2Vote for this!
void00	Posted Apr 1st, 2009 at 12:54PM I know a little bit. Rated: +2Vote for this!
Waiwera	Posted Apr 1st, 2009 at 7:35AM I really don't know how I would estimate "how much I know about Buddhism". In my younger days, I was interested in Buddhism and very taken with Lord Buddha's teachings, as they were studied under the umbrella of Theosophy, which I was into at the time. And much later I discovered that one of my ancestors (or past-lives) studied under Buddha as one of his students - so maybe that was the attraction this time around. But as for having extensive knowledge about the variants of Buddhism, and knowing the scriptures, I wouldn't say that I know much at all. Rated: +1Vote for this!
phedokitty	Posted Apr 1st, 2009 at 7:39AM I don't know very much,but I like it,I believe in reincarnation!;)I know you know many things;) Rated: +1Vote for this!
todayfriend	Posted Apr 1st, 2009 at 8:00AM friend......... GOD Buddha real name Siddhartha born in kings family.At the age of 29, Siddhartha left his palace. though i am not belongs to buddisim i belive in god buddha god bless u........ Rated: +1Vote for this!
Coyotegray	Posted Apr 1st, 2009 at 10:30AM Check out books and recorded lectures by Alan Watts (you can find them on the web, some for free) - he is very able to present the philosophical world view of Buddhism in terms that make sense to those of us not raised in the tradition. Rated: +1Vote for this!
Deki	Posted Apr 1st, 2009 at 10:43AM Trying to learn Buddhism from a book it like trying to learn basketball from a book. You can't just read about it. You have to do the practice. Rated: +1Vote for this!
crosseyedlemon	Posted Apr 1st, 2009 at 10:59AM Buddha be damned! I thought all the enlightened ones were at Facebook! Rated: +1Vote for this!
conquest2234	Posted Apr 1st, 2009 at 10:15PM Buddhism is a following uniting bunch of really nice and polite people and certain (relatively harmless and useless) practices. I go to the local buddhist meditation group sometimes and really appreciate that these guys are offering free of charge place for peaceful meditation. I donate to their causes sometime as i feel grateful for their kindness and work. If you think that "practicing" buddhism will make you (or will help you to get) enlightened - you're up to disappointment in about 20-30 years, when you'll figure that nothing majorly have changed deep inside you. I am very practical person and was studying a number of masters who achieved enlightenment and paid very careful attention to their message. So far my conclusions are that buddhism is great for being part of cultural tribe of nice people but little will help you on your quest to enlightenment. Seek modern masters who achieved these heights and listen to their message. What was true 2000 yrs ago is little relevant today. Rated: +1Vote for this!
crazymanj	Posted Apr 3rd, 2009 at 2:55PM Supposedly If you ever do reach nirvana you cannot return to your previous existence. Nirvana Is a different plane of existence you will not longer have pain, joy, suffering, or happiness and it breaks the cycle of reincarnation. But of course given this It would be impossible for anyone to tell us of nirvana. So Buddhism and Jainism represent the path to enlightenment. Living is not about the end, It's about the search for truth and enlightenment. It's a common belief that you only get out of life what you put in. Hence If you search in everything you are and do you will eventually find the answer. Rated: +1Vote for this!
thehippy	Posted Apr 14th, 2009 at 5:02PM its about the here and now. About enlightenment, being aware of your every action. Its about spiritual development, understanding the order of things, mediation and insight. It is a lifestyle. Rated: +1Vote for this!

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