|
 Buddhism
Loughborough Buddhist Meditation Group Meditation classes in Loughborough teaching basic meditation and the practice of Kadampa Buddhism. Each class consists of guided meditations, a talk and discussion. They last about two hours, including refreshments. The classes are suitable for everyone from beginners to experienced meditators. £5 per class. There is no need to book - just turn up and pay at the class. Times: 7.30pm Thursdays Location: John Storer House, Bedford Square, Loughborough Contact: Tara Buddhist Centre, Derby. 01283732338 Website: www.taracentre.org.uk Student Group There are none that we know of - if anyone knows of a group of Buddhist students meeting together, please contact us at the
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
, or if you fancy starting one up then we'd love it help!! Links East Midlands Buddhist Association: http://www.emba.mcmail.com The Buddhist Society UK http://www.buddsoc.org.uk Buddhism in Daily Life http://www.buddhalife.org/ Overview of Buddhism
Buddhism is a spiritual tradition that focuses on personal spiritual development and the attainment of a deep insight into the true nature of life.
A Different Way of Faith
This makes Buddhism different from many other faiths for it is not centered on the relationship between humanity and God. Buddhism doesn't fit the pattern of other faiths and needs to be seen in its own terms to be understood properly.
Buddhists do not believe in a personal creator God.
It does not have the concept of a Saviour, nor of Heaven and Hell in the popular sense.
Buddhism doesn't demand blind faith or belief, and says that people should test its teachings against personal experience. The Bare Essentials of Buddhism - 2,500 years old
- 350 million Buddhists worldwide
- Founded by Siddhartha Gautama in Nepal
- The path to Enlightenment or Buddhahood is through the practice and development of morality, meditation, and wisdom.
- Buddhists do not believe in a creator God nor a personal God, but Buddhists are tolerant of those whose beliefs are different from theirs.
- Buddhists believe that nothing is fixed or permanent — change is always possible.
- Buddhism teaches that all life is interconnected, so compassion is natural and important.
Beliefs
Summary of the Teachings of Buddha - Karma: Actions have consequences; so our lives are conditioned by our past actions.
- Rebirth: Consciousness continues after death, and finds expression in a future life.
- Liberation from karma: By following the Buddha's path one escapes the cycle of craving and suffering.
- The Four Noble Truths: The essentials of Buddhism
- Enlightenment: The highest goal of life is to reach Enlightenment; a state of being that goes beyond suffering.
- Dharma: The teachings and hence the way to nirvana
The Core of Buddhist teaching
At the heart of the Buddha's teaching lie The Four Noble Truths and The Eightfold Path which lead the Buddhist towards the path of Enlightenment.
Facing the Truth
The Buddha taught that the human tendency is to avoid the difficult truths of life and this in turn leads to suffering. By enabling the mind to be at peace through meditation a human being can confront reality and overcome hatred and craving.
The Four Noble Truths
Whilst seated beneath the Bodhi tree the Buddha experienced the four noble truths. - Dukkha: All existence is unsatisfactory and filled with suffering
- Trsna: The root of suffering can be defined as a craving or clinging to the wrong things; searching to find stability in a shifting world is the wrong way
- Nirvana: It is possible to find an end to suffering
- The Noble Eightfold path is the way to finding the solution to suffering and bring it to an end
The Noble Eightfold Path
This path is the essential life-style of the Buddhist - Right understanding: A full and complete understanding of the Buddha's view of life
- Right attitude: A Buddhist must develop a mental state whereby goodwill and peacefulness take the place of malicious or hateful thoughts
- Right speech: The practice of truthful, kindly, helpful, and harmonious communication.
- Right action: Living ethically, according to the Buddhist precepts, and taking responsibility for the consequences of one's actions.
- Right livelihood: A Buddhist’s occupation must not be harmful to others
- Right effort: Making a consistent effort to overcome unwholesome motivations and cultivating wholesome ones
- Right mindfulness: Consider all things with care and act, speak, and think with awareness
- Right meditation: Deep concentration through following the path of Buddhist meditation
The Threefold Way
The Threefold Way is a central way for Buddhists - Ethics: To live one’s life in a way that helps, rather than causes harm
- Meditation: Transforming the mind through meditation practice
- Wisdom: Understanding the truth pointed to by the Buddha through listening, reflection, and meditation
The Three Jewels
The three highest ideals of Buddhism to its followers are - The Buddha: The historical Buddha and the state of Buddhahood he embodies
- The Dharma: The teachings of the Buddha and the truth they point at
- The Sangha: All those who have attained Enlightenment and the spiritual community of those following the same path
|
