Buddhism is the fourth largest religion in the entire world, and has been around since 6th century BC. There is no doubt that you have seen the statues of chubby-bellied Buddha. They are everywhere, from cheap shopping mall gift stores to sacred temples, and many people have Buddha statues in their homes, “for good luck.” But is that what Buddha is all about? And just what is Buddhism, anyway? It’s likely that there is much you don’t know about Buddhism, and that much of what you do think you know is an inaccurate spin based on Westernized ideals. Here are five things you didn’t know about Buddhism:
About the Buddha. The word “Buddha” is an adjective, which translates to “enlightened one.” Therefore, Buddha should actually be referred to as “the Buddha.” The Buddha was a real person who lived in India around 400 BC. He was a famous teacher and social reformer, who owned slaves and died of diarrhea (no joke). His wise words were not printed until five centuries after his death.
Buddhist atheism. Those who practice Buddhism do not acknowledge any God, but rather stress that true spiritual enlightenment comes from practicing mindfulness, leading a moral life, and pursuing wisdom. They don’t worry as much about finding =installment loans online= or buying a new car as much as they are concerned with living a peaceful life free of burdens. Buddhism is not a religion as much as it is a philosophy of life, and Buddhists are tolerant of all religions.
War over Buddhism. Unlike most other religions (especially Christianity), there has never been one war fought over Buddhism. That is because Buddhism does not stake a claim in the world of religion, and does not acknowledge labels associated with religions.
The law of karma. Everyone has heard the common cliché that personifies karma as a not very nice woman. The truth is that many people don’t even know what the law of karma is all about. Karma is about intention. Therefore, those who hope or intend negative outcomes for other people in the name of karma are actually bringing negative karma to themselves.
The life of Buddhist monks. Pop culture would have you believe that Buddhist monks live high on some mountain temple where they are completely shut off from the rest of society, and that they live their lives completely ignorant of the ways of the modern world. Buddhism requires that monks actually maintain ties with the outside world, in order to maintain balance, and Buddhist colonies must rely on the population for food to force this interaction.
Hopefully these interesting Buddha facts surprised you a bit, and inspired you to see the world with an open mind. Things aren’t always what they seem, or what popular opinion would have you believe. There is more to Buddhism than meets the eye, and much that you could take away from this knowledge in order to better your life and the world around you.
