http://www.beliefs-in-buddhism.com Buddhist Beliefs and Traditions Thu, 18 Sep 2008 17:12:51 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en [1]There are eight Symbols For Buddhism [2]. These refer to as the eight auspicious symbols. The Conch Shell; this is a symbol for power, authority and sovereignty. When blown it is believed to banish evil spirits and scare away poisonous creatures and avert natural disasters. Nowadays the conch is used in Tibetan Buddhism to call together religious assemblies. During the practice of rituals it is used both as a musical instrument and as a vessel for holy water. Vajrayana Buddhism used the conch as a symbol which fearlessly proclaimed the truth of dharma. Among the eight symbols the conch also stands for the fame of the Buddha's teaching, which spreads in all directions like the sound of the conch trumpet. A Lotus; This symbol is one of Buddhism's most recognized. It is very important because every deity is associated with the lotus in some manner, either sitting upon one or holding one in their hands. A Wheel; A wheel consists of three main parts, the hub, the rim and eight spokes. Its underlying form is a circle which is a complete and perfect in itself, qualities which inform the teachings of Buddha. Individually the rim represents the element of limitation, the hub the axis of the world and the eight spokes denote the Eightfold Path, which leads to the overcoming of all suffering. The Parasol; parasols represents the dome of the world. The parasol is carried above an important dignitary or the image of a deity to indicate that the person or symbol below the parasol is the centre of the universe. Parasols also depict spiritual support. Parasols are very important in processional rites and are often seen to as mobile temples; depictions of Buddha often show an elaborate and large parasol over his head. An Endless Knot; The knot has no beginning or end and symbolizes the infinite wisdom of the Buddha. It also symbolizes that all phenomena are interrelated and the placing of an endless knot on a greeting card is understood to establish an auspicious connection between the giver and the receiver. The endless knot represents a connection with our fates, binding us to our karmic destiny. A Pair of Golden Fishes; These represent happiness, as they have complete freedom in water. They are also the symbol of fertility and abundance. Buddha is known as a 'fisher of men' who saves mortals from the ocean of suffering. The Victory Banner; the victory banner was adopted as a symbol of the Buddha's enlightenment, showing the triumph of knowledge over ignorance. A Treasure Vase; In Buddhism the Treasure vase symbolizes the spiritual abundance of Buddha, a treasure that never diminished no matter how much he gave away. [1] http://www.beliefs-in-buddhism.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/sculpture.jpg [2] http://www.beliefs-in-buddhism.com/zen-relaxation/ http://www.beliefs-in-buddhism.com/symbols-for-buddhism [1]There are two Major Beliefs In Buddhism [2]. The first is Hinayana, the lesser vehicle, also known as Theravada, the doctrine of the elders, and the greater vehicle, Mahayanna. Hinayanna places emphasis on that each individual is responsible for his or her own salvation. Mahayanna says that all beings are tied together through universal salvation. The diversity of sects of this belief includes Zen, Lamaism and Nichiren. Fundamental beliefs in Buddhism are those of reincarnation and rebirth. Practising Buddhists differentiates between the two concepts; in reincarnation the individual may recur repeatedly, in rebirth the individual does not necessarily return to Earth as the same entity ever again. The Four Noble Truths are major underlying principles of Buddhism. The nature of suffering; humans discover through illness, ageing and death that life is full of sorrow. Buddhists believe that we, humans, will suffer sorrow until deliverance is achieved. The origin of suffering; we, humans, crave for false desires which we think will bring us pleasure. The search for mortality further aggravates human suffering. The overcoming of suffering; false desires need to be suppressed and abandoned to reverse there effects, ignorance of the way of deliverance and the delusion that there is a permanent self are the main cause of suffering. The way leading to overcoming of suffering; the Noble Eightfold Path is one of the most important beliefs in Buddhism. The Noble Eightfold Path is sacred with eight branches known as;The right views of understanding. Right aspirations. Right speech Right conduct Right livelihood Right effort Right mind control Right mindfulness The eight branches are not parts or stages of life that can be lived in succession or in isolation; they are the different dimensions of a total and complete way of life. It is believed that humans are often mistaken or deluded about the true nature of reality and that they have cravings for things which we wrongly believe us pleasure and a distinct aversion for those things we think won't. Humans believe that by not getting the things we want or crave will make us suffer, when in reality it is the attachment to some things and aversion to others that cause us suffering. All Buddhists must also refrain from taking untimely meals, dancing, singing, music or watching grotesque mime, use of perfumes, personal adornment and use of garlands, use of high seats and accepting gold or silver. [1] http://www.beliefs-in-buddhism.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/buddha.jpg [2] http://www.beliefs-in-buddhism.com/zen-relaxation/ http://www.beliefs-in-buddhism.com/major-beliefs-in-buddhism [1]The History of meditation [2] goes back to ancient times and it is thought that primitive man may have discovered meditation while they stared into the flames of their fires. Over thousands of years meditation became a structured practice. Indian 'tantras' mention meditation techniques was started over 5000 years ago. One of history's major icons 'Buddha' introduced meditation as part of his teachings which spread far and wide across Asia. Different cultures and countries found their own variations of practising meditation. Eastern style practise of Buddhists and Hindus are still practised today in many countries. The practice of meditation spread to Western society thousands of years after is was adopted in the East. The popularity of meditation became more recognized in the mid-twentieth century when in the sixties and seventies researchers began testing the different effects of meditation on the mind and people's general well being. They began learning about the multitude of benefits that can be gained from its practice. Meditation is a practice which helps people achieve mental, emotional and physical balance within themselves. Meditation is used to treat stress, anxiety and depression as the deep rest that is achieved by meditation enables people to think more clearly and therefore make better life choices. There are reports that people who meditate have higher self esteem. However, until the mid twentieth century Western societies associated meditation with religion and previous to this was only used as such. The health benefits of meditation have long been recognized in the countries of its origin and today the West has also come to realize the benefits in health care. Meditation can help lower blood pressure by slowing down the breathing and reducing the amount of oxygen needed. The deep 'thought' practices enable the mind and body to relax and enable people to contemplate their actions and negative thoughts by replacing them with positive ones which they can then focus upon to change their own state of mind. No longer do people have to belong to a religion to be able to learn how to use the practice of meditation. Meditation can be practised anywhere, either as a solitary practice or within a meditation group. The search of finding true self through the meditative  process is not something recently discovered. While Western civilization has for the most part been directing its energies outward in various efforts to control and exploit the resources of nature, there have always been inner-directed philosophers, saints, and mystics who have dedicated themselves and their lives to finding a higher purpose than material well-being and self gratification. [1] http://www.beliefs-in-buddhism.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/meditation.jpg [2] http://www.beliefs-in-buddhism.com/zen-relaxation/ http://www.beliefs-in-buddhism.com/history-of-meditation [1]There are several Gods In Buddhism [2] which are also known as deities. Buddhists do not believe that there is one creator of the universe or one absolute God. Buddhists believe that life depends on other people and circumstances which we have no control over. No one has a fixed or permanent self, as our circumstances change so will we. The Lord Buddha is described as the ninth incarnation of Vishnu. He is depicted as having a calm and graceful appearance, with long ear lobes and his hands in a boon-giving and protecting attitude. He is often depicted in either a standing or sitting pose. Dipankara Buddha is a deity of Mahayana Buddhism. He is believed to have come from the mythological city Deepavati. He is also known as 'The Enlightener' and was given the name Dipankar because there was a manifestation of a large number of lamps, Dipa, at the moment of his birth. Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara is among the 108 forms of Lakeswarg. He refuses to accept Nirvana as he considers this as selfish in view of the ignorance of the great majority of people who have not reached that stage. His sacrifice symbolizes infinite compassion, sharing of mankind's misery and his willingness to help others. He is known as the Bodhisattva of compassion and is the protector from danger. Amoghasddha represents the cosmic element of conformation, Samskar. He is green in color and his symbol is the double thunderbolt, viswa vajra. He is associated with the rainy season and always faces north. Sometimes he is depicted with a seven headed serpent as his umbrella, in front of his shrines there is a square pit which is meant for the snakes. The Eagle King Garuda is a man-bird who is often seen kneeling before Vishnu's shrines. He is nearly always represented as a human bar his huge wings which fold out from his shoulders. He can also be seen with his head as a birds as well, Shadakshari is also a form of Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara. He is always seen with adornments, he is white in color, has four arms and carried a rosary in the right hand and a full lotus in the left, his other two hands are raised to his chest with the palms enjoined with a 'Jewel' which is regarded as a symbol of knowledge. Yamantaka is depicted with the head of a bull and two arms, he has a crown of skulls and a third eye. In painting he is seen with sixteen feet, thirty four arms holding all of the tantra and nine heads. Yamantaka is the conqueror of death. There are a further 8 Gods in Buddhism [3], all of which represent different aspects of Buddhism’s beliefs. [1] http://www.beliefs-in-buddhism.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/buddhism.jpg [2] http://www.beliefs-in-buddhism.com/zen-relaxation/ [3] http://www.beliefs-in-buddhism.com/zen-relaxation/ http://www.beliefs-in-buddhism.com/gods-in-buddhism [1]Buddha discouraged the use of images; however, over the centuries many different forms have entered Buddhist iconography including Buddhist tattoos [2]. Buddhists monks are often the tattooists during some festivals, particularly in Thailand. Due to the different forms of Buddhism worldwide there is no agreed consciousness of opinion on the art of tattooing. The art work in Buddhist tattoos can be breathtaking, however, the tattoos are more than intricate and fanciful designs, and each tattoo represents one or more of the teachings of Buddha. Henna tattoos are particularly popular for depicting Mandalas. These are geometrical designs which symbolize the universe. Mandalas are ritualistically used by Buddhists to aid meditation. The traditional Buddhist tattoo for luck, wealth and blessing uses mantras, the outline of the tattoo, yantras, are usually geometric designs based on images of Buddha’s, Bodhisattvas, the Lotus, the Buddhist heart and other sacred symbols. This style of tattoo is also believed to help to avoid harm and evil spirits. There are 108 different sutras which can be used with this tattoo, which means that most people's birthday and needs as different combinations of sutra, mantra and yantra can be used. The seated Buddha with his hands forming the mudra, which symbolizes the setting in motion of the wheel of teaching the dharma, is a tattoo which is often used. The Time Wheel, which in broad terms means the cycles of time in Tibetan Buddhism is also used frequently as are the words Om Mane Padme Hum, which mean 'Hail to the Jewel in the Lotus' when translated. Dharma wheels represent the Wheel of Truth and Law which the Buddha would spin to indicate the beginning of a new cycle of teachings. Spinng the Dharma is believed to change the course of destiny. The Dharma Wheel is a circlur tattoo which has eight spokes which represent the Eightfold Noble Path. Each spoke symbolizes one of the following: Thought- The conscious effort to avoid indulging in bad/harmful thoughts. Speech- Being responsible about what is said and speaking the truth with consideration for the feelings of others. Actions- The resulting fruits of correct thought and speech. Livelihood- Practising correct thought, speech, and actions in the daily work life. Understanding- Developing true wisdom. Effort- Persevering with a good attitude through life's trials. Mindfulness- Living life in the present, letting go of the past, and letting the future take care of itself. Concentration- Keeping a calm frame of mind. Buddhist tattoos of lotus blossoms can have slightly different meanings, depending on how they are drawn and which colors are used. A Pink lotus blossom represent Buddha himself. A White lotus blossom represents purity of the mind and body. A Red lotus blossom represents purity in matters of the heart. A Blue lotus blossom represents wisdom and triumph over physical longing. Buddhist tattoos [2] of an unopened lotus blossom symbolizes the potential for enlightenment, while an opened blossom represents full enlightenment. [1] http://www.beliefs-in-buddhism.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/tattoo.jpg [2] http://www.beliefs-in-buddhism.com/zen-relaxation/ [3] http://www.beliefs-in-buddhism.com/zen-relaxation/ http://www.beliefs-in-buddhism.com/buddhist-tattoos [1]Buddhism encourages people the world over to find a meaning in their life and there are many Buddhist Quotes [2] which people may have heard of without realizing they originate from Buddhism. The teachings of Gautam Buddha includes the following quotes: People who are judgemental; people with opinions just go around bothering each other. Attitude; Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned. Anger; You will not be punished for your anger; you will be punished by your anger. Relating to work; To be idle is a short road to death and to be diligent is a way of life; foolish people are idle, wise people are diligent. Regarding friendship; An insincere and evil friend is more to be feared than a wild beast; a wild beast may wound your body, but an evil friend will wound your mind. On Truth; Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth. Relating to love; You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection. In regards to envy; Do not overrate what you have received, nor envy others. He who envies others does not obtain peace of mind. Good Deeds; Neither fire nor wind, birth nor death can erase our good deeds. Regarding thought; The mind is everything. What you think you become. Gratitude; Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful. Hatred; Hatred does not cease by hatred, but only by love; this is the eternal rule. Buddha quotes also include the following; Focus; All that we are is the result of what we have thought. Friendship; An insincere and evil friend is more to be feared than a wild beast; a wild beast may wound your body, but an evil friend will wound your mind. Self Discipline; It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you, not by angels or by demons, heaven or hell. Happiness; Meditation- live purely. Be quiet. Do your work with mastery. Like the moon, come out from behind the clouds! Shine. Happiness; Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared. Life; The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly. Business; Your work is to discover your work and then with all your heart to give yourself to it. Philosophy; We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts we make the world. There are many other Buddhist Quotes [2] which may be relevant to you and the way you lead your life. [1] http://www.beliefs-in-buddhism.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/head.jpg [2] http://www.beliefs-in-buddhism.com/zen-relaxation/ [3] http://www.beliefs-in-buddhism.com/zen-relaxation/ http://www.beliefs-in-buddhism.com/buddhist-quotes [1]The ultimate goal of in Buddhists is Buddhism Nirvana [2]. To reach Nirvana Buddhists meditate and follow the principles of Buddhism, paying particular attention to the Four Noble Truths. The Buddha experienced enlightenment while he meditated under the Bodhi tree, he saw all of his past lives and the past lives of others. Eventually he gained a perfect knowledge of this world and the world beyond it. The Buddha never specified what Parinirvana was like, it is believed to be beyond human comprehension, the Buddha was unable to relate in language what is called Nirvana. It is believed that the closest interpretation is that it extinguishes ignorance, hatred and earthly suffering. Buddhists believe that you reach Nirvana when you can escape Samsara, the cycle of reincarnation. When you reach Nirvana you stop accumulating bad karma because you have transcended it and spend the rest of your life and future lives working off the bad karma you have already accumulated. Once you have escaped the karmic cycle it is believed you achieve final Nirvana, Parinirvana, in the afterlife. Buddhists believe that meditating and meditation is crucial to well being. They believe that meditating clears the mind and encourages positive thinking. Meditating is also used to concentrate on removing all bad thoughts and negative energy. Buddhists celebrate Nirvana Day annually.Nirvana Day is the celebration of Buddha's death when at the age of eighty he reached total Nirvana. On the festival day of Nirvana, Buddhists think about their lives and how they can work towards achieving the total peace of Nirvana. Buddhists believe that Nirvana is reached when all wants and suffering is gone. Nirvana is believed to be the end of rebirth and is the ultimate aim of Buddhism. It is reached when all want and suffering is gone. Buddhists celebrate Nirvana by either going to temples or monasteries or by mediating. In monasteries Nirvana Day is treated as a social occasion where food is prepared and some people bring presents such as money, household goods or clothes. Some Buddhists read passages from The Paranibbana Sutta during the festival, which describes the last days of Buddha, while others may reflect on those who have recently died. Buddhists use the lunar calendar to define when the dates of festivals will take place, often using dates when there is a full moon, although some Buddhists celebrate Nirvana on February 15th. Nirvana is possible for any person; however, in most Buddhist sects only monks attempt to achieve it. [1] http://www.beliefs-in-buddhism.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/sculpture2.jpg [2] http://www.beliefs-in-buddhism.com/zen-relaxation/ http://www.beliefs-in-buddhism.com/buddhism-nirvana [1]One of Buddhism's best recognized motifs is the lotus flower. Buddhism lotus flower [2] appears in all kinds of Buddhist art, across all Buddhist cultures. Every important deity is associated with the lotus flower in some way, either being seated upon a lotus in full bloom or holding one in their hands. Some images of a standing Buddha show him standing with each foot on a separate lotus flower. The lotus flower is one of the Eight Auspicious Symbols of Buddhism and is one of the most poignant representations of Buddhist teaching. The lotus plant grows in water; however, only the roots are in the mud, the stem grows up through the water and holds the heavily scented flower above the water. Buddhists believe that the pattern of growth of the lotus signifies the progress of the soul from the mud of materialism, as it grows through the waters of experience and into the bright sunlight of enlightenment. According to the Lalitavistara, "the spirit of the best of men is spotless, like the lotus in the muddy water which does not adhere to it." The lotus is native to southern Asia and can be found growing at altitudes of up to 1,600 metres. The flowers can grow as large as a cabbage and the leaves can grow as large as dinner plates. The lotus plant does not grow in Tibet and as such only a stylized version is used. The scrolling lotus is often seen on Buddhist textiles, ceramics and architecture. The color of the lotus flower has an important bearing on the symbolism associated with it. The White Lotus represents the state of spiritual perfection and total mental purity. The White Lotus is also associated with the White Tara and proclaims her perfect nature, a quality which is reinforced by her white body. The Pink Lotus is the supreme lotus and usually reserved for the highest deity and as such it is associated with the Great Buddha himself. The Red Lotus represents the original nature and purity of the heart. It is the lotus of love, compassion, passion and all other qualities of the heart. The Red Lotus is the flower of Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of compassion. The Blue Lotus represents the victory of the spirit over the senses and signifies the wisdom of knowledge. The Blue Lotus is the flower of Manjushri, the Bodhisattva of wisdom. The Blue lotus is shown as double flowers with curly petals. [1] http://www.beliefs-in-buddhism.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/closed.jpg [2] http://www.beliefs-in-buddhism.com/zen-relaxation/ http://www.beliefs-in-buddhism.com/buddhism-lotus-flower [1]The Buddhism creation story [2] centre around events after the Buddha's death. It is believed that approximately five hundred monks met under the leadership of Kashyapa at the first council at Rajagrha. A monk called Upali recited the Vinaya (monastic code) as he remembered it. The Buddha's cousin, friend and disciple Ananda recited the Buddha's lessons, the Sutras. The monks debated the details recited and decided on final versions. These were then commited to memory by the other monks and remained an oral teaching tradition for over two hundred years, and eventually were translated into the many languages found in India. Over the next few centuries the original unity of Buddhism began to fragment and during the second council held at Vaishali, some one hundred years after the first, debates between a more liberal group and traditionalists took place. The liberal group left and called themselves the Mahasangha, 'the great Sangha'. This group further evolved into the Mahayanna tradition of northern Asia. The traditionalists were referred to as Sthaviravada or 'way of the elders'. They developed a complex set of philosophical ideas beyond those made clear by Buddha. These were gathered into the Abhidharma or 'higher teachings'. However, they too began to disagree so that one splinter group after another left the 'way of the elders'. Eighteen schools developed, each with their own interpretations of various issues. Today, only the school originating from the Sri Lankan Theravadan survives. There is also a story which tells of a poor young boy who did not have a gift for the Buddha, so he collected a handful of dust and innocently presented it. The story tells how the Buddha smiled and accepted his gift with the same graciousness as he accepted gifts from the wealthy. The young boy is said to have been reborn as the Emperor Ashoka. Ashoka then sent missionaries all over India and beyond, reaching countries such as Egypt, Plaestine and Greece. The Greeks of the Alexandrian kingdoms of northern India adopted Buddhism after their king had a conversation with a monk called Nagasena and was convinced by him; their conversation was immortalized in the Milinda Panha. Another king in northern India was also converted to Buddhism and a council was held in about 100 ad in Kashmir. The Greek Buddhists recorded the Sutras onto copper sheet, but these have never been recovered. Buddhism Creation Stories [3] vary, one story which is told is of Orthodox Christianity; a saint called Josaphat, an Indian king, tells a story which is basically that of the Buddha. The name Josaphat is thought to be a distortion of the word Bodhisattva. [1] http://www.beliefs-in-buddhism.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/temple.jpg [2] http://www.beliefs-in-buddhism.com/zen-relaxation/ [3] http://www.beliefs-in-buddhism.com/zen-relaxation/ http://www.beliefs-in-buddhism.com/buddhism-creation-story [1]One of the basic Buddhist Beliefs [2] is the belief that happiness and good fortune can be achieved by everyone, irrespective of their age, race or background. Buddhists believe that by using meditation all negative states of mind can be overcome. Meditation can help humans to develop positive, peaceful states of mind and through meditation are able to solve all types of problems which they face daily. The belief in reincarnation is also a basic belief of Buddhism. Buddhists believe that everyone is re-born after dying by going through many cycles of birth, life and rebirth, the cycles only end when a state of freedom and liberation from suffering is achieved; this is called the state of Nirvana and the desired outcome for all Buddhists. There are three main practices in Buddhism. Sila if the first and this applies to virtue, good conduct and morality. The principles of equality and reciprocation are the two fundamental principles of Sila. The first is the belief that all living things are equal, no one form is above another. The second is the practice of treating others as you would like to be treated. Samadhi is the second practice which refers to meditation, concentration and mental development. Buddhists believe that the true path to wisdom is achieved by developing the mind; developing the mind leads to personal freedom. Prajna is the third practice which refers to insight, wisdom, discernment and enlightenment. Amongst the basic beliefs in Buddhism is faith in the Five Precepts which are; 1. Do not kill and be kind to all creatures 2. Do not steal, give rather than take 3. Do not lie, be honest and open 4. Do not misuse sex 5. Do not consume alcohol or recreational drugs. The Four Noble Truths are also basic beliefs in Buddhism, these explore human suffering. The first truth is Dukkha which says that suffering exists and is universal. The second is Samudaya which states that there is cause for suffering; the third is Nirodha which suffering stops when Nirvana is reached. The fourth noble truth, Magga says that in order to end suffering you must follow the Eightfold Path. Eightfold Path is one of the most important beliefs of Buddhism. Panna begins the Path which is discernment or wisdom. Incorporated within Panna is understanding of the Four Noble Truths, Samma Ditthi and Samma Sankappa which refers to following the right path in life through correct thinking. Sila practices virtue and morality and includes the next six paths. Samma Vaca is the practice of right speech, lying, criticism and condemning, gossiping and harsh language is not acceptable. Samma Kammanta is the practice of right conduct which is attained by following the Five Precepts. Samma Ajiva, the right to livelihood, and to support yourself without causing harm to others. Samma Vayama, the right to effort. Try and have good thoughts and sissuade evil ones. Samma Sati, the right to mindfulness, becoming aware of your own mind, feelings and of your body. Samma Samadhi refers to correct concentration by using meditation to achieve a higher state of consciousness. [1] http://www.beliefs-in-buddhism.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/tranquility.jpg [2] http://www.beliefs-in-buddhism.com/zen-relaxation/ http://www.beliefs-in-buddhism.com/buddhist-beliefs