History and origins

Buddhism was founded in the sixth century BC, by Siddhartha Gautama, later known as the Buddha (the Enlightened One). He was born in former north-eastern India (now Nepal) around 560 BC. At this time Hinduism had been in India for 1,000 years, introduced by Aryan tribes whose cultures had influenced the whole subcontinent.

The son of a rajah, Gautama had a wealthy upbringing. According to tradition, his father was given a prophecy: Gautama would either be a great ruler or a homeless wanderer. In order to prevent the second from happening, his father sheltered him from all influences outside the palace. He was educated and privileged. But he left the palace one day and saw four kinds of suffering. He became dissatisfied and left his home to discover the source of suffering and how to eliminate it.

He first tried to search for knowledge through traditional Hindu methods (eg. yoga). Then he traveled to northern India and for six years lived an extremely ascetic life. Realizing that asceticism did not bring freedom from suffering, he turned to meditation. At a city called Bodh Gaya, he sat under a fig tree resolving not to leave until he had attained enlightenment (the highest knowledge). After some time he reached enlightenment and became the Buddha.

Enlightenment had three stages: first, he saw his previous lives pass before him; second, he saw the cycle of birth, death and rebirth and the law which governs the cycle (reincarnation); third, the four holy truths were revealed to him: knowledge of suffering, the source of suffering, the removal of suffering and the way to the removal of suffering.

Despite doubts that people were ready for new teaching, Buddha began to preach and gather followers. He called his path to enlightenment the Middle Way, because it avoided the extremes of affluence and asceticism.

Buddhism grew out of the Hindu world. Hence Buddhism inherited some Hindu ideas (eg. reincarnation, karma) and rejected others. Many teachings and ideas were later absorbed that were not part of Buddha’s original teaching. Some are based on Hindu traditions. Buddhism spread into many parts of East, Southeast and Central Asia, to be superseded by Islam in some areas.

Beliefs

The Four Noble Truths

• The first: suffering is the basic human condition; the mental, emotional and physical suffering we endure is a result of past karma.
• The second: the cause of our suffering is our desire for transient things. We value people and material things too highly, but ultimately cannot depend upon them.
• The third: suffering can be eliminated, if we stop desiring the temporary.
• The fourth: the way to eliminate our desire is to follow the eight-fold path.

The Eight-fold Path
Wisdom/insight

1. Right knowledge/ understanding.
2. Right attitude/thought.

Ethical conduct/morality

3. Right speech
4. Right action.
5. Right way of living.

Mental discipline
6. Right effort.
7. Right awareness.
8. Right composure/meditation.

Keeping to the eight-fold path is difficult. It requires commitment and determination.

Nirvana: the goal
Nirvana is not a Buddhist “heaven,” nor self-annihilation. It is the end of suffering. The word nirvana is derived from a verb meaning “to waft away.” Buddha described nirvana as unlike the earth or anything of the earth, nor like consciousness, nothingness, the sun or the moon. It is sometimes called a transformed consciousness, but is not like the Christian idea of the soul, as Buddha did not believe that the inner person existed. Nirvana can be partially experienced before death, through meditation.

Personality and the soul

In Western thought, personality is a consistent unit determining the behavior and choices of a human being. Buddhism views the human as part of the universe, an arrangement of ever-changing elements. The soul, self or individual does not exist as such.

Reincarnation

As the universe constantly changes and decays, humans also change, decay and reform.

Karma
Karma is the moral law of cause and effect. We reap what we sow, in the present life and afterwards. We are bound by the consequences of karma.

Types of Buddhism

Theravada
teaching of the ancients
A division within Buddhism occurred at the beginning of the third century BC, primarily over the issue of enlightenment. Followers split into two traditions: Theravada and Mahayana. Theravadins believe that enlightenment is accessible to only a few true believers. The individual moves toward it alone, with no help from rituals or even statues of Buddha, since Buddha and others who have died are believed to have entered nirvana. Theravada is the tradition which most closely follows Buddha’s teaching.

Mahayana
the greater vehicle
Mahayana is the “greater vehicle” because there is room within it for all; salvation or enlightenment is for all people. Followers of Mahayana refer to the earliest Buddhist writings used by Theravadins, but also use many other writings.

Vajrayana
the diamond vehicle
Vajrayana is similar to Mahayana, but also includes mystical and occultic elements from Tantrism, an ancient Indian tradition. The name derives from vajra, meaning something bright, transparent, indestructible, like a diamond, and referring to the purity of tantric spiritual power. Vajrayana uses mantra (chant), mudra (physical gesture) and mandala (meditation circle). It began in India in the first century AD, then spread to Nepal, Tibet, China and Japan.

Lamaism
Lamaism is the form of Buddhism widely followed in Tibet. Lama was originally a word applied to a high spiritual leader but later came to mean a monk. Lamaistic Buddhism developed at the end of the seventh century AD, as a blend of Vajrayana and the ancient Tibetan Bon religion. The Dalai Lama (“lama great as the ocean”) is the figurehead, while the Panchen Lama (“jewel of the scholars”) is the spiritual leader.

Zen
Zen Buddhism is popular and influential in Japan. Originally based on Mahayana, it was known as Ch’an and was introduced to China in the sixth century AD, from where it spread into Japan in the twelfth century. Little importance is placed on concern with teaching, and greater importance on meditation, through which one is believed to reach enlightenment. Zen has left its mark on Japanese society, culture and customs.

Folk Buddhism
This is the dominant form of Buddhism in many parts of East Asia, particularly rural areas. Elements of Buddhism are mixed with local religions, usually animistic. This produces a spirit-based worldview and lifestyle based around rituals and superstition. In some areas there are beliefs in other deity figures such as Buddha’s mother, with temples dedicated to them. Folk Buddhists are often not aware of the difference between their beliefs and the dominant Buddhist traditions.

Other points

• Buddhists generally believe that there are many paths to Nirvana.
• Buddhism denies that we have a soul or personality, so a personal understanding of God is an alien idea.
• Buddhists in East Asia will largely follow a mixture of one or more dominant Buddhist traditions, animism and ancestor worship.
• Jesus is understood to be a spiritual master similar to Buddha.
• Most Buddhists have either not heard the gospel or have not understood it.

Pray for

• Christian witness in countries with limited religious freedom.
• Christians in Buddhist regions.
• Tibetan Christians outside Tibet; unable to return and share the gospel because of political instability.
• Buddhists who may be questioning their beliefs or feeling disillusioned. Stories are told of dreams, visions and prophecies which have occurred in isolated or “closed” areas, preparing people for Christian witness.

Learn more about praying for Buddhists.