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| Buddhism, like most of the great religions of the world, is divided into a number
of different traditions. We will deal in this essay with Theravada Buddhism.
Buddhism
is a religion which shares few concepts with Christianity. For example,
they do not believe in a transcendent or immanent or any other
type of God or Gods, the need for a personal savior, the power of prayer,
eternal life in a heaven or hell after death, etc. |
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They do believe in reincarnation:
the concept that one must go through many cycles of birth, living, and
death.
After many such cycles, if a person releases their attachment to
desire and the self, they can attain Nirvana.
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The
Buddha's Four Noble Truths may be described (somewhat simplistically) as
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to
be fully understood: the universality of suffering |
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to
be abandoned: the desire to have and control things which cause. suffering |
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to
be made visible: the supreme truth and final liberation of nirvana which
is achieved as the cause of suffering is eliminated. The mind experiences
complete freedom and liberation |
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to
be brought into being: the truth of the eightfold ariya path leading to
the cessation of suffering |
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His
Eightfold Path consists of ...
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1. right understanding |
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2. right thinking |
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3. right speech |
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4. right conduct |
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5. right
livelihood |
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6. right effort |
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7. right mindfulness |
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8. right concentration |
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| More
information and pictures |
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