Buddhism: Basic Buddhist Teachings and Practices

Buddhism’s founder, Siddhartha Guatama, born into royalty in India around 600 B.C. It is one of the leading world religions with diffused geographical distribution and has major socio-cultural influences. It is largely an “Eastern” religion but becoming popular in the Western world. The Buddha never considered himself to be a god or any type of divine being. Instead, he considered himself to be a person showing the way to overcome suffering for others. He educated people via the dhamma teachings that are equally applicable today. 

According to Buddhism, instead of a beginning or an end, there is an endless circle of birth and death—samsara. Buddhism teaches that nibbāna is the highest state of mental achievement—a state of pure being. Since nibbāna has to be personally realized, it cannot be defined or by rationalize. Thus, it cannot be taught or explain to another person, but can only be realized following the dhamma and practicing meditation.

What is Buddhism:

In addition to the explanations of true nature or reality, Buddhism contains a profound philosophy, natural law, and a spiritual tradition that teaches a way of life to alleviate from suffering. The Buddha taught this over 2,600 years ago, via a number of discourses (sutta in Pali language). The ultimate goal is to achieve the Supreme nibbāna by breaking the vicious cycle of rebirth and death cycle. Globally, it is estimated there are over 900 million people following this tradition; the third largest religious group worldwide. 

Buddhism is diverse and many consider it as a philosophy. It consists of two broad traditions, Theravada (small vehicle) and Mahayana (large vehicle). Theravada is the original teaching and disciplinary code that Buddha taught, in which the goal is to attain the ultimate enlightenment, the nibbāna in those who engaged in deep practices. Whereas, Mahayana Buddhism holds full enlightenment or ‘Buddhahood’ as the widely proclaimed goal. Within the Mahayana sector, there are several sub-sectors of Buddhism, such as Vajrayana, Tantrayana, Pure Land, Zen, Tendai, Nichiren, Shingon, and Ryoku, etc.

Key Buddhist principles include, exercising the free will and choice and open-mindedness, not harming other living beings, not to believe hearsay or gossips, and to inquire before accepting anything. In addition, practicing Buddhists do not harm anyone, kill living beings, tell lies or engage in deceptions, and taking any intoxicating substances. 

In Theravada Buddhism, there are no rituals gods. These were added hundreds of year later, at the time when Sri Lankan kings imported brides from India, designed to satisfy their religious (Hinduism) and for cultural beliefs and for ethnic harmony. In contrast, Mahayana Buddhism accumulated rituals from the beginning, in part of the 'northern culture' and to be aligned with governance and beliefs of at times. None of the sectors of Buddhism, there are no punishments of the followers or non-followers, by seen or unseen beings

Buddhists, however, believe the good and bad karma—the “Cause and Effect." Considering that Buddhism teaches a “way of life,” it perfectly aligns with the generally accepted common laws in most countries and the prevailing common sense. Buddhism is taught to focus on the consequences (i.e., the cause and effect); each action has a reaction in this or future lives, of the person who is taking the action. Keeping the mind always in the present moment, facilitates noble behavior and avoiding wrong doings. 

Buddhist Five-Precepts:

The Five Precepts in Buddhism are suggestions for maintaining a good behavior, the first step towards "right livelihood;" they are not commandments. The first precept is to abstain from killing living beings, that includes, humans, animals, and insects, but not plants. Thus, spreading the loving-kindness to all beings and engage in nonviolence.  

The second precept is to abstain from stealing; knowingly taking things, living beings, or material/money/valuables that does not belongs to you or not given to you. It also encompass the generosity, openness and transparency, being honest, and to help those who are in need. 

The third precept is not to undertake, encourage, or exploit others, including sexually, mentally or emotionally, and not engage in physical exploitation and misconducts. Buddhism doesn’t enforce abstinent; instead advices to be conscious of one’s actions within the socially accepted norms and not embarrass or harm others. The intent is to strive for the practice of simplicity and to be content with what you have.

Fourth precept is for telling truth. It encompasses abstaining from false speech, lying, and hiding things from others or intentional over-ups. Be truthful to oneself and to others. 

The final (Fifth) precept is to avoid indulging with any mind-altering substances (i.e., avoiding substances that confuse the mind, such as intoxicants), such as alcohol, hallucinogens, illegal drugs, extreme audio-visuals, etc. Mind-altering substances confuse the mind and may also cause hallucinations. These can also cause losing one’s sense of reality and the focus, responsibility, and social norms. Taking actions with altered mind could lead to unthoughtful or harmful actions that he or she will likely to regret later. 

Because these precepts are to be undertaken on own volition and be aware and know the actions a person is taking, they are directly oriented towards the Buddhist practice of mindfulness. As discussed previously in this series, the mindfulness is a form of mind-training that should be extended to one’s daily life; being aware and conscious of the present moment, and once own thinking and actions, feelings, and behavior.  

Four Noble Truths:

The basis of Buddhist teachings include, the Four Noble Truths (suffering—rebirth is an intrinsic part of ordinary life, which can be ended by breaking the cycle of death, and rebirth. Practical aspects of these are reflected in the Four Bodhisattva Vows. In Mahayana Buddhism, practicing these are intended to ending the suffering. Let's look at these in brief.

First noble truth is the truth of suffering: The first bodhisattva pledge is to rescue living beings from suffering. Suffering in Buddhism refers to the both physical and mental suffering of all living beings. 

The second noble truth is to recognize the cause of suffering. Suffering arise from (unreasonable)desires, ignorance, jealousy, and the craving for pleasure and material goods. Ending desires and cravings are achieved through meditation and development of wisdom. Based on the type of Buddhist traditions, this can be achieved in this life itself or practices pursued over many lives to come. 

The third noble truth is understanding the ways to eliminate causes of suffering. This comes through learning and practicing dhamma (how our living cause and affect suffering and adhering to the Eight precepts), achieving the wisdom, and enlightenment through meditation.

The fourth Noble Truth is the path that leads to the end of suffering. Suffering ends when one managed to get rid of all defilements, including desires, attachments, etc. With this, one reaches the enlightenment and nibbāna. To attain nibbāna, however, one needs to strive to live the life according to the Noble Eightfold Path.

Eight Nobel Path:

The fundamentals of Buddhist practices are the followings of the Precepts, Four Noble Truths (belief of the Buddhism), and the Noble Eightfold Path (the discipline—the way of living the life). The key to ending suffering is the attainment of nibbāna, achieve through adhering and practicing a way of life, as per the Noble Eightfold Path (the “Middle Way”). The Noble Eightfold Path teaches us to live a worthy life. This are:

• Right speech, Right action, and the Right livelihood; following these three elements involve living according to the Buddhist, precepts. 
• Right effort, Right mindfulness, and Right concentration; achieved through practicing meditation.
• Right understanding and Right thoughts; developed through the regular practices of meditation, cultivation of the mindfulness, development of the wisdom, and live according to the Buddhist precepts.

Above, are the fundamental teachings of The Buddha. Every action we take in our lives has an reaction (i.e., karma).  Let us now briefly examine the karma.

Good and bad deeds—Karma:

Karma (also known as kamma) means action. As discussed above, in Four Nobel Truth and Eight Noble Paths, the Buddhist philosophy emphasizes the importance of one’s good intentions and actions and the fact that consequences are to follow (“Cause and Effects”). Good thoughts and actions are generally motivated by generosity and compassion; consequently, bring well-being to self and others.

Whereas, unwholesome actions (i.e., bad deeds—breaking precepts, being selfish, greedy, hatred, and declining to help others, etc.) are motivated by greed, jealousy, and hatred; these bring harm and misery. Bad deeds enhance the life’s sufferings (samsara) and will perpetuate the cycles of life, death and rebirth; the sufferings that Buddha taught that us to get rid of. Buddhists believe that life is a cycle of death, reincarnation (rebirth), and suffering. Our actions has consequences (effects) to self or to others, in this life or later lives. 

The practice of Dhamma:

Dhamma—is the Buddhist teachings, describes the true reality of our lives and the nature of the world. Applicability of dhamma varies with the changing reality and the situation; one’s perception, choices, and actions.  Dhamma is the path that the Buddha preached (taught), and the teachings of his highest ranking monks, these are embedded in Buddhist discloses (suttas). Like Buddhist meditation, Dhamma is to be practiced in our daily lives, moving toward to achieving the enlightenment. 

The next article in this mindfulness series will discuss different Buddhist traditions.

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Professor Sunil J. Wimalawansa, MD, PhD, MBA, DSc, is a physician-scientist, educator, social entrepreneur, and process consultant. He is a philanthropist with experience in long-term strategic planning, cost-effective investment and interventions globally for preventing non-communicable diseases. [recent charitable work]. The author has no conflicts of interest and received no funding for this work.