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Basic Buddhist Beliefs
The Problem:
1. We all want happiness. Why aren't we happy?
2. Impermanence of all
3. Ignorance is not bliss; ignorance is suffering (samsara).
4. Attachment to the mind
" Zen poem: "To her lover, a beautiful woman is a delight; to
an ascetic, a distraction; to a wolf, a good meal."
4. Seek and end to our suffering through desire
5. Karma: (Monk, p. 122)
6. Reincarnation
The Solution:
7. Realizing the interconnectedness and sanctity of all life
a. Examples: Indra's Net, gravity (Monk, p. 103), a rainbow (Monk, p.
103)
b. Nonviolence
8. Harmony of wisdom and compassion:
a. Wisdom is seeing the world as it really as interconnected and suffering
from this lack of seeing the world correctly.
b. Compassion is the mindset that acts in the world in accordance with
this wisdom. Compassion wants to free the world of suffering in all its
forms.
9. All beings have the Buddha Nature (Dharmakaya) within
10. The Middle Way (Monk, p. 109): Between eternalism and nihilism.
11. Receiving merit assists one counteract negative thought patterns.
Motivation for Buddhist actions and rituals.
Other basic beliefs:
• No creator of the universe, no personal God.
• No original sin (Monk, p. 204)
• No soul
• Rejects the caste system of Hinduism
• Universal message to all.
• Inclusion of women.
The Monk and the Philosopher by Jean-Francois Revel and Matthieu
Ricard
[a:basicteachings]
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