The 2500-year-old Buddhist tradition derives its values and practices from Buddha—a young prince who left his home searching for truth. After roaming for years on the lands of Northern India, he attained enlightenment through focused meditation practice under a tree. As a result, Buddha gained massive appeal from the people of the time who sought his guidance to find the truth about human life. So, let’s look at the philosophy of Buddhism, which has over half a billion followers.
Philosophy of Buddhism: Path To Nirvana
The basic premise of Buddhism is that all life is suffering, and to find eternal happiness, one has to attain nirvana—a place of boundless peace, happiness and order. So, a Buddhist must learn to follow the eightfold path, a key to enlightenment. This path comprises the given rightful values in one’s life.
- View
- Resolve
- Speech
- Action
- Livelihood
- Effort
- Mindfulness
- Concentration
World And Human Life
According to Buddhism, the world is illusory, and people are stuck in ‘Maya’ or deceit. No wealth or prosperity can help a man leave the cycle of birth and death—the law of karma.
This made Buddha question the very fundamentals of his life, and he set on a journey to learn more about the practices of detachment.
On his journey, he encountered many spiritual masters who helped him seek knowledge. However, some differences made him follow his path, and with consistent meditation efforts, he finally realised nirvana.
God In Buddhist Philosophy
There is a lot of debate and discussion regarding the term God in Buddhist philosophy. Many scholars believe that nirvana is the final stage attained by liberation, so where does God come into the equation? The answer is not that complex, considering that many meditative states in Buddhism involve sound and light—the cause of all creation. So, these spiritual experiences come from a source that can be a case for God.
Who Is The Enlightened One?
Buddha was the enlightened one because he became detached from the world. However, it was half the case; his efforts to bridge the gap between others and nirvana through compassion made him a symbol of a true master who teaches and guides his students in the right direction. So that others also follow in his footsteps and reach their final destination of eternal bliss and peace.
Practices To Enlightenment
The ancient Hindu scriptures mention different ways of meditation. But in Buddhism, the special emphasis is on Vipassana, where an individual sits peacefully and tries to avert the world’s desires. It’s a simple process with spiritual complexities and requires good and strong will. Buddha’s attainment of enlightenment took 49 days, so one can understand the severity of the whole process.
Experiences Of Spiritual Journey
Many Buddhist texts reveal the spiritual realms of light and sound. Both are complementary to one another and guide the individual to their destination. However, since everyone has their journey, generalising the experience does not give justice to the actual substance.
Buddha’s Teachings Were Critiques Of Past Culture
During Buddha’s time, society had different dogmas and cultural practices. One of the most notable was the caste system of Hinduism. Buddha heavily opposed the whole system and, in his teachings, criticised the people’s stupidity, making him a notable teacher at the time. This also helped establish the new wave of religious practices that are esoteric and open to different people.
Key Takeaways From The Buddhist Philosophy
Buddhism, a 2500-year-old tradition, is based on the teachings of Buddha, a young prince who sought truth through meditation.
Buddhism posits that all life is suffering, and to attain eternal happiness, one must follow the eightfold path of detachment. Buddha’s journey led him to seek knowledge from various spiritual masters, and he ultimately achieved nirvana through meditation.
The concept of God in Buddhism is debated, but many meditative states involve sound and light. Buddhism emphasises Vipassana meditation, which takes days to perfect. Buddha’s teachings critiqued past cultural practices, such as the caste system, and established esoteric religious practices.
Frequently Ask Questions (FAQs)
What is the basic philosophy of Buddhism?
The Buddhist doctrine emphasizes that the entire world is full of suffering and cycles of birth and death. To get free from these cycles, one needs to attain liberation by seeking a proper path.
Is Buddhism a religion or a philosophy of life?
The Buddhist culture has religious practices derived from the Buddha’s philosophical and post-enlightenment wisdom.
What are the 4 golden rules of Buddhism?
The four golden rules of Buddhism are:
- Life of suffering
- Cause of suffering
- End of Suffering
- Path to end suffering.
