What Is Buddhism?: A Proper Introduction

Although it is called the fourth largest religion in the world, at its core Buddhism really isn't a religion; practitioners are not called to worship any deities (no, the Buddha is not portrayed as or considered a god). Arguably, perhaps, it would be more appropriate to call Buddhism a discipline or practice, or even a philosophy, than a religion. I say this because the primary aim of Buddhism, from the first instruction 2500 years ago to this present moment, is to alleviate suffering. When the newly enlightened Gautama Buddha began to teach his new practical approach to an awakened life in the various villages he passed through, he would invariably be asked, "So, what do you teach, exactly?" His standard reply was, "I teach only suffering and the end of suffering."
Buddhism is nothing more than a practical approach to living an awakened life free of suffering. When the Buddha (which simply means "awakened one") began to share his insight with others, the first thing he taught was the Four Noble Truths, sometimes translated as the Four Ennobling Truths, which would become the cornerstone of his teachings. These Ennobling Truths are:

1. There is suffering in life- By virtue of having a body and a mind one will inevitably encounter suffering. The tot bumps his head, the toddler skins her knee. The child discovers intense wanting-- for treats, toys, etc.-- and aversion-- not wanting bumped heads and skinned knees-- and this cycle of desire/aversion only tends to gain in intensity and complexity as we age. This leads us to the second Noble Truth...
2. Our own desire/aversion is the cause of our suffering- This might not seem so obvious (or even true) to us, at first. After all, bad things do happen to us through no apparent fault of our own: we're laid off from work, diagnosed with a debilitating or fatal disease, a loved one dies, and so on. These things are all legitimately painful, and unavoidable. But pain is not the same as suffering. Pain happens when our circumstances change-- a pristine knee becomes a skinned one, our good health becomes ill health, our living loved one passes away; suffering happens when we are unable to accept this change, to accept what is. In other words, it is our desire for things to be other than as they are that creates our suffering.
   
3. It is possible to no longer suffer- At this point the Buddha is making a positive statement of great conviction. All your worrying, your grief, your emptiness, anxiety, depression, loneliness, worthlessness, your demons, regrets, resentments, all of it, can be abated, even relieved entirely. To me, the third Noble Truth is offered as a toe-hold for the lost seeker, a point of faith for those of us struggling through life looking for a better way. The Buddha is telling us in no uncertain terms that even an ordinary person like you can learn to live a peaceful, compassionate, loving, and serene life.
   
4. The end of suffering can be realized through the Noble Eightfold Path- Lest we thought the Buddha was getting all esoteric and supernatural on us with the third Noble Truth's article of faith, he drops an eminently practical path on us. To the degree that we can cultivate certain qualities through mindful and diligent practice we will relieve our suffering. There is no appeal to magic or imaginary beings. Instead we are asked to pay close attention to our thoughts, words, and actions, and to work hard on ourselves to cultivate loving-kindness, or "mettha" in the original Pali dialect. Elsewhere, the Buddha and later masters would elaborate on this idea, stating that changing the world for the better-- to increase net joy and relieve net suffering-- begins with our own ability to transform our suffering into loving-kindness. Again, this transformation is achieved through the Eightfold Path, often symbolized by an eight-spoked wheel, which is itself a list of qualities one is entreated to nurture.

To expound on the Noble (or Ennobling) Eightfold Path will require another post, I think, but I would not want to leave it here without at least naming these qualities that the Buddha has asserted will lead to the end of suffering. They are usually translated with the word "Right" as in "correct," as opposed to "wrong," and for that reason I prefer the less commonly used "Appropriate." Each of these can be expanded on extensively, and have been, but I will give only a brief sketch for now. So here we are:

1. Appropriate View (or "Right" View, and sometimes "View" is given as "Understanding") Essentially, seeing things as they are, rather than as we are. With appropriate view we understand that the bully is actually in great pain, for example.
   
2. Appropriate Intention (sometimes "Thought"). Especially in the early stages of our practice, our thoughts run wild and are often inappropriate and undermine our serenity. Meditation teaches us to master our thinking, and being vigilant in our mindfulness of our sincere intention to free ourselves and others of suffering is paramount.
   
3. Appropriate Speech- Knowing that even our words have consequences (and positive effects that ripple out in ways beyond our awareness), the Buddhist abstains from lying speech, divisive speech, abusive speech, and gossip. Don Miguel Ruiz, in his book, "The Four Agreements," calls this "[being]... impeccable with your Word."
   
4. Appropriate Action- Similar idea; if our words have positive and negative effects, how much more so do our deeds? In the larger sense this is an admonition to abstain from killing, stealing, and engaging in "sexual misconduct" (rape, of course, and obsessive or addictive sexual behavior), and in the refined sense it is being mindful of our every action and striving to always act in a way that is in harmony with our appropriate view, intentions, and speech.
   
5. Appropriate Livelihood- One should not earn one's living from any venture that increases suffering in the world. Meat-packing, bar tending, soldiering, are some fairly obvious ones, but others could easily be oil company geologist (or any oil-related position), certain lawyers, bankers, corporate executives, and more. The more awake we become, the more difficult it becomes to continue buying our bread with money made from or contributing to the suffering of others.
   
6. Appropriate Effort- The sort of change that will transform suffering and reveal enlightenment does not come easily. It is a simple path, but not an easy one. The Buddhist strives to maintain her enthusiasm and effort through the periods of discomfort and doubt.
   
7. Appropriate Mindfulness- a.k.a. Right Attention, is about honing your awareness to the point of being alert to anything that effects you physically, mentally, and emotionally. Be aware, for example, of the craving you have for something harmful, e.g. a cigarette, alcohol, a cheesecake, sex with a stranger, and observe the dynamic that plays out in your thoughts. Be mindful of your intentions, words, and actions. Watch how your effort declines. What has happened?
   
8. Appropriate Concentration- Particularly applicable to a meditation practice, the quality being cultivated is mastery of the mind. The state of "One-ness" as described in deep states of meditative awareness reminds me of the the Judeo-Christian saying, "Be still and know that I am God." In more Eastern terms, if I can be aware of my being aware, who is this "I" that I refer to?
   

There is so much more to go into, but it's late and "I" am tired.

Namaste