INTRODUCTIONSiddhartha or Gautama Buddha was a Prince who gave up on his throne and embarked on a spiritual journey towards enlightenment. On his way he learned, practiced, implemented and taught various principles.
"We are what we think. All that we are arises with our
thoughts. With our thoughts we make the world."
HIS PRINCIPLES
A] The 4 Noble Truths
Gautama Buddha realized that people for their entire life were trying to run away from suffering. His 4 Noble Truth speaks on suffering::
1. Life is suffering
2. The origin of suffering is attachment i.e. craving for sensuality, identity and annihilation
3. End to suffering is attainable by achieving Nirvana
4. The Path to end suffering is by following the Noble Eight Fold Path
B] The Noble 8 Fold PathThe Noble Eight Fold Path are not a step-by-step process but they are interdependent on each other. The basic goal is to free the Individual from attachments and delusion and lead him/her to understand the truth about all things. These 8 Fold Paths are as follows:
1. Right View
2. Right intentions
3. Right Speech
4. Right Action
5. Right Livelihood
6. Right effort
7. Right concentration
8. Right mindfulness
"Master your words.
Master your thoughts.
Never allow your body to do harm.
Follow these three roads with purity
And you will find yourself upon the one way,
The way of wisdom"
C] The 5 Precepts
The 5 precepts are the moral conducts to avoid doing evil deeds. They are as follows:
1. No killing
2. No stealing
3. No sexual misconduct
4. No lying
5 No intoxicants i.e alcohol and drugs that cause heedlessness.
"If you kill, lie or steal,
Commit adultery or drink,
You dig up your own roots.
And if you cannot master yourself,
The harm you do turns against you Grievously"
Buddha on Reasoning
"Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it.
Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many.
Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books.
Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders.
Do not believe in traditions simply because they have been handed down for many generations.
But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it."
CONCLUSION
Buddha's principles, teachings and his profound wisdom grew after his death and gave rise to a religion known as Buddhism.
For further reading:
Site: thebigview.com
Ouotes: buddhasangha.com
Movie:The Buddha (2010)
TED Talk: Bob Thurman