by Christopher Johnson

Created on: October 11, 2007

Buddhism is a way of life that has taken on religious meaning by its followers. Buddhism was never meant to be a system of faith in an outside force, such as a supreme being or god. Buddhism teaches that the true way to salvation, or enlightenment, lies in our ability to see what is truth and what is transient. Buddha himself often said that he was no god, but that he wasn't a man either. This was because his teachings were meant to show us not so much that we don't exist, but that we don't exist as we see ourselves. The foundation of Buddhism lies in the the Four Noble Truths, and it is our knowledge and understanding of these tenets that will lead to our enlightenment, not reliance on a god or dogma. The Noble Truths are thus: 1. There is pain and suffering in this world 2. Our pain and suffering is brought about by our attachment 3. There is a way out of this suffering, it can end 4. That way is through the Eightfold Noble Path. Basically we suffer because we are attached to things. For example: we have all, at one time or another suffered because we didn't have enough money. We are attached to this concept of money, or more specifically the concept of worth that we have created and attached to little green pieces of paper with pictures of dead presidents on them. We suffer because we don't have what those pieces of paper can bring us. There is a way out of this suffering, and that is by realizing that they really are only little green pieces of paper with pictures of dead presidents on them. Another example is that a chair is a chair because we call it a chair. Does that label ACTUALLY make it a chair? Does the label define the object? This is the essence of the buddha's dharma. There is no religious overtone here, but a clarion call to all of us to "wake up and see what is, not what you wish or have created" In all aspects of your life, be mindful that we are dictating our reality and trying to force it to our designs. Buddhism instead says, "It is what it is, stop fighting it and learn from it. Live with it, it's not changing just for you."

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