What is Buddhism?

The intention of having this topic in writing, came after some reflections on the questions about Buddhism that my surrounding friends posted every now and then. If there are views that are not in accordance to the Teachings, please bear with me as it is due to my lack of understanding.

Buddhism is commonly regarded as a religion by the general populace. How do we define a religion? From what we can gather in our daily lives, a religion is usually made out to be a belief in and reverence for a creator and governor of the universe. It can also be seen as a personal or institutionalized system with its ways of worships made on the same beliefs.

Based on such a definition, can we look upon Buddhism as a religion? Before we jump into any conclusion, it will be best if we have a better understanding of Buddhism and its origins.

Buddhism has its origins in India from a monk named Gautama who attained the Great Awakening in his thirties. Right after attaining enlightenment, a man who was greatly impressed by his radiance, went up and asked, "Who are you? Are you a man or are you a god?". Monk Gautama replied, "I'm neither. I'm awake." Thereafter, he was known as the Buddha, meaning "One who has Awoke".

In his first discourse that he delivered (also one of the most important discourses he made), he talked about the Four Noble Truths. They are

1. There is suffering;
2. There is a cause of suffering;
3. There is cessation of suffering;
4. There is a path leading to the cessation of suffering.

To awaken to the truth about this conditioned world and to end suffering, one must uproot ignorance as the roots of suffering lie in ignorance itself. How do we do it then? In Buddhism, to uproot ignorance, one leads the Noble Eightfold Path which entails the following

1. Right Views
2. Right Thoughts
3. Right Speech
4. Right Action
5. Right Livelihood
6. Right Mindfulness
7. Right Effort
8. Right Concentration

When we talk about ignorance in Buddhism, we mean to say that one takes to believing what is impermanent to be permanent and non-self to be self. This is also where many starts to hear about emptiness. Emptiness in Buddhism is not just being empty but it is to mean that all is empty of a independent self, there is non-self, there is dependent co-arising.

As the Buddha has put it nicely, "This is because that is. That is because this is. This is not because that is not. That is not because this is not." For if there is a a independent self, it will not need to grow, to interact with the rest of this world thus it cannot be known to us. As such, it is necessary to uproot such false views for liberation, total freedom.

Furthermore it is also important to note that Buddha believes that everyone is liable for their own actions and conduct, most importantly, their own liberation. He dismissed the idea that there is an ultimate creator for if there is, then there would be no recourse for those who did great wrongs. And that there are murderers, thieves, rapists and evil-doers are at no fault and wrong as they are not here on their own intentions but they are here for the only reason that they are created to do wrong in the first place by this ultimate creator.

Furthermore the Buddha has chosen to remain silent on several occasions when he was posed with questions that revolves around the topic of an eternal world or eternal soul. He liken the people who asked such questions to someone who has been wounded by an arrow.

Instead of treating and taking care of the wound immediately, the wounded choose to first find out, where did the arrow come from, who shot it, what was the texture of the arrowhead and what wood is the arrow made of and refusing treatment till these questions are answered. Such questions do not deserve our attention as the answers will not bring one closer to enlightenment. Rather cultivation of oneself for liberation is far more important than questions on the metaphysical.

There is so much more to Buddhism and i have barely scratched on it. I will be more than glad to share more about it but in the meantime, think about it, what about your views on Buddism now - Is Buddhism a religion or is it something else or more? =)