Buddhism is a complex religious and philosophical tradition that has grown over 2,500 years and now has more than 500 million followers worldwide. As it has spread across different cultures, Buddhism has evolved and integrated local traditions, leading to various interpretations of its core ideas, scriptures, and practices. This diversity initially caused confusion for early European visitors to Asia, who failed to recognise that the practices in places like Sri Lanka, China, and Japan all stemmed from the same source—Buddhism.
But what exactly is Buddhism, and what are some of the key ideas and practices that define this tradition? In this article, we’ll explore Buddhism’s origins, its major themes, and the different forms of Buddhism practised today. One common question is whether Buddhism is truly a religion or simply a philosophy or way of life. Many argue that it is not a religion, an idea that goes back to the 1850s when Anglican minister Charles Hardwicke described Buddhism as more of a philosophy than a religion. Hardwicke and others focused on Buddhism’s metaphysical and social aspects, downplaying its rituals, sacred writings, and religious institutions like monasteries and monks.
However, this approach reflects a Protestant Christian view of religion, emphasising belief in a creator god while minimising the role of rituals. Different definitions of religion exist, and how one defines religion plays a key role in determining whether Buddhism fits the category. From an academic perspective, we will treat Buddhism as a religion, using a model that defines religion as addressing a human problem, offering a solution, advocating practices for solving that problem, and presenting examples of people who have overcome it.
The Three Jewels of Buddhism
A traditional answer to the question “What makes someone a Buddhist?” is that a Buddhist is someone who seeks refuge in the Three Jewels: the Buddha, the Dharma (the Buddha’s teachings), and the Sangha (the community of Buddhists). These provide protection from the suffering or “dukkha” of the world, and serve as the foundation of Buddhism.
The Buddha
Buddha, meaning “awakened one,” refers to Siddhartha Gautama, a prince who lived around the 5th century BCE in what is now Nepal and northern India. According to legend, Siddhartha abandoned his luxurious life to find a solution to suffering, which he referred to as “dukkha,” encompassing stress, unsatisfactoriness, and discomfort with the world. After years of searching, he attained enlightenment, or “nirvana,” which he believed was the key to overcoming suffering.
The Buddha’s teachings, known as Dharma, are grounded in the Four Noble Truths. These truths form the core of Buddhist philosophy:
- Suffering exists: Life is marked by suffering, which comes from sickness, ageing, death, and unfulfilled desires.
- Suffering has a cause: The root of suffering is craving—our constant desire for things we believe will bring us happiness.
- Suffering can end: If we eliminate craving, we can eliminate suffering.
- There is a path to end suffering: This path, called the Eightfold Path, is a guide to moral discipline, concentration, and wisdom.
The Buddha’s teachings emphasise that all things are impermanent and interconnected. Understanding and accepting these truths can lead to wisdom, compassion, and freedom from suffering.
The Dharma
The teachings of the Buddha, or Dharma, offer insights into reality and the nature of existence. The first sermon delivered by the Buddha, known as the “Discourse which Turns the Wheel of Dharma,” outlines the Four Noble Truths, a key text within the Pali Canon, an ancient collection of Buddhist scriptures. These teachings were memorised by disciples and passed down orally for centuries before being written down.
The teachings also include the concept of karma (action), which states that the consequences of one’s actions—good or bad—shape future experiences. The Buddha argued that actions driven by hatred, greed, and delusion, known as the “three poisons,” are the main causes of suffering. By replacing these negative emotions with wisdom and compassion, individuals can achieve nirvana, a state free from suffering.
The Sangha
The Sangha, or Buddhist community, is composed of both laypeople and monastics (monks and nuns). Lay Buddhists focus on accumulating merit and good karma through acts of generosity and moral discipline, with the aim of improving their next rebirth. For most laypeople, nirvana is seen as a distant goal, and they may participate in rituals, offerings, and donations to the monastic community.
Monks and nuns, on the other hand, dedicate their lives to following the Buddha’s path. They engage in practices like memorising scriptures, performing rituals, and cultivating moral discipline. At the most advanced levels, monks and nuns might study Buddhist philosophy or engage in meditation to achieve deep personal realisations of the Buddha’s teachings and move closer to enlightenment.
Forms of Buddhism Today
Buddhism has developed into three broad traditions, each influenced by the local cultures where it took root:
- Theravada Buddhism: Practised in Southeast Asia, including Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Thailand, Theravada Buddhists consider their practices to be the closest to what the early Buddhist communities followed. The Pali Canon, a collection of ancient texts, is central to their practice. The path to enlightenment is seen as long and gradual, taking many lifetimes to complete.
- Mahayana Buddhism: Practised in China, Korea, Japan, and Vietnam, Mahayana Buddhism introduced new scriptures and ideas, such as the belief that the Buddha was an emanation of a universal principle of awakening. Forms of Mahayana Buddhism include Pure Land Buddhism, which emphasises faith in the compassionate Buddha Amitabha.
- Tibetan Buddhism: Practised in Tibet, Mongolia, and parts of Nepal, Tibetan Buddhism follows the Mahayana tradition but is also heavily influenced by Tantric texts that aim at achieving enlightenment in a single lifetime. Tibetan Buddhism is also known as Vajrayana, or the “Diamond Vehicle,” and is closely associated with the Dalai Lama.
Conclusion
In summary, Buddhism is a diverse tradition that has evolved over 2,500 years, with varied interpretations and practices. However, certain core themes persist, such as the Three Jewels, the focus on overcoming suffering, and the recognition of impermanence and interdependence as the nature of reality.
Buddhism continues to change, shaped by history, culture, and the lives of its followers. To explore more, platforms like Buddhist Studies Online provide in-depth, non-sectarian courses on the history, philosophy, and languages of Buddhism taught by top university professors.
