Buddhist Beliefs

There are two Major Beliefs In Buddhism. 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.