Pha^.t DDa?n (Ra(`m tha'ng 4 A^m Li.ch)

[A1 <a1@bpworld.com>]

Tha^n cha`o ca'c anh chi.,

Ra(`m tha'ng 4 (Full moon) is the Buddha birthday.  In celebrating this
biggest event in the Buddhist world, I would like to share with you an 
article on VN-Buddhism's homepage: A five-minute Introduction to 
Buddhism (See attached).

Also on this event, I would suggest us to make this and next months the 
months of respect for life, human rights, charity, peace, and harmony.  

For those of you in Houston, please support "DDa.i Ho^.i Ca Vu~ Nha.c 
Ki.ch: Ha. Ve^` Ye^u Thu+o+ng" at Music Hall (810 Bagby) at 2:30 Saturday, 
June 21, 97.  This show includes many well-known singers, ...
This is a fund-raising event for the Phap Luan Buddhist temple.

Regards,
Binh

PS: Please forward this message as widely as possible.

---------- Forwarded message ----------

            * A 5-MINUTE INTRODUCTION TO BUDDHISM *

                             oOo

1. What is Buddhism?

Buddhism is a religion to about 300 million people around the world. 
The word comes from 'budhi', 'to awaken'. It has its origins about 
2,500 years ago when Siddhata Gotama, known as the Buddha, was himself 
awakened (enlightened) at the age of 35.

2.Is Buddhism a Religion?

To many, Buddhism goes beyond religion and is more of a philosophy or 
'way of life'. It is a philosophy because philosophy 'means love of 
wisdom' and the Buddhist path can be summed up as:

(1) to lead a moral life,  (2) to be mindful and aware of thoughts and 
actions, and (3) to develop wisdom and understanding.

3. How Can Buddhism Help Me?

Buddhism explains a purpose to life, it explains apparent injustice 
and inequality around the world, and it provides a code of practice or 
way of life that leads to true happiness.

4. Why is Buddhism Becoming Popular?

Buddhism is becoming popular in western countries for a number of 
reasons. The first good reason is Buddhism has answers to many of the 
problems in modern materialistic societies. It also includes  (for 
those who are interested) a deep understanding of the human mind (and 
natural therapies) which prominent psychologists around the world are 
now discovering to be both very advanced and effective. 

5. Who Was the Buddha?

Siddhata Gotama was born into a royal family in northen India, in 563 
BC. At 29, he realised that wealth and luxury did not guarantee 
happiness, so he explored the different teachings religions and  
philosophies of the day, to find the key to human happiness. After six 
years of study and meditation he finally found 'the middle path' and 
was enlightened. After enlightenment, the Buddha spent the rest of his 
life teaching the principles of Buddhism - called the Dhamma, or Truth 
- until his death at the age of 80. 

6. Was the Buddha a God?

He was not, nor did he claim to be. He was a man who taught a path to 
enlightenment from his own experience.

7.  Do Buddhists Worship Idols?

Buddhists sometimes pay respect to images of the Buddha, not in 
worship, nor to ask for favours. A statue of the Buddha with hands 
rested gently in its lap and a compassionate smile reminds us to 
strive to develop peace and love within ourselves. Bowing to the 
statue is an expression of gratitude for the teaching.

8. Why are so Many Buddhist Countries Poor?

One of the Buddhist teachings is that wealth does not guarantee 
happiness and also wealth is impermanent. The people of every country 
suffer whether rich or poor, but those who understand Buddhist 
teachings can find true happiness.

9. Are There Different Types of Buddhism?

There are many different types of Buddhism, because the emphasis 
changes from country to county due to customs and culture. What does 
not vary is the essence of the teaching - the Dhamma or truth.

10. Are Other Religions Wrong?

Buddhism is also a belief system which is tolerant of all other  
beliefs or religions. Buddhism agrees with the moral teachings of 
other religions but Buddhism goes further by providing a long term  
purpose within our existence, through wisdom and true understanding. 
Real Buddhism is very tolerant and not concerned with labels like 
'Christian', 'Moslem','Hindu' or 'Buddhist'; that's why there have 
never been any wars fought in the name of Buddhism. That is also why 
Buddhists do not preach and try to convert, only explain if an 
explanation is sought.

11. Is Buddhism Scientific?

Science is knowledge which can be made into a system, which depends 
upon seeing and testing facts and stating general natural laws. The 
core of Buddhism fit into this definition, because the Four Noble 
truths (see below) can be tested and proven by anyone in fact the 
Buddha himself asked his followers to test the teaching rather than 
accept his word as true Buddhism depends more on understanding than 
faith.

12. What did the Buddha Teach?

The Buddha taught many things, but the basic concepts in Buddhism can 
be summed up by the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path.

13. What is the First Noble Truth?

The first truth is that life is suffering ie, life includes pain, 
getting old disease and ultimately death. We also endure psycho- 
logical suffering like loneliness frustration, fear, embarrassment, 
disappointment and anger. This is an irrefutable fact that cannot be 
denied. It is realistic rather than pessimistic because pessimism is 
expecting things to be bad. lnstead, Buddhism explains how suffering 
can be avoided and how we can be truly happy.

14. What is the Second Noble Truth?

The second truth is that suffering is caused by craving and aversion. 
We will suffer if we expect other people to conform to our 
expectation, if we want others to like us, if we do not get something 
we want,etc. In other words, getting what you want does not guarantee 
happiness. Rather than constantly struggling to get what you want, try 
to modify your wanting. Wanting deprives us of contentment and 
happiness. A lifetime of wanting and craving and especially the 
craving to continue to exist, creates a powerful energy which causes 
the individual to be born. So craving leads to physical suffering 
because it causes us to be reborn.

15. What is the Third Noble Truth? 

The third truth is that suffering can be overcome and happiness can be 
attained that true happiness and contentment are possible. lf we give 
up useless caving and learn to live each day at a time (not dwelling 
in the past or the imagined future) then we can become happy and free. 
We then have more time and energy to help others. This is Nirvana.

16. What is the Fourth Noble Truth?

The fourth truth is that the Noble 8-fold Path is the path which leads 
to the end of suffering.

17. What is the Noble 8-Fold Path?

In summary, the Noble 8-fold Path is being moral (through what we say 
and do in our livelihood), focussing the mind on being fully aware ofour 
thoughts and actions, and developing wisdom by understanding the Four 
Noble Truths and by developing compassion for others.

18. What are the 5 Precepts?

The moral code within Buddhism is the precepts, of which the main five 
are: not to take the life of anything living, not to take anything not 
freely given, to abstain from sexual misconduct and sensual 
overindulgence, to refrain from untrue speech, and to avoid 
intoxication, that is, losing mindfulness.

19. What is Karma?

Karma is the law that every cause has an effect, ie, our actions have 
results. This simple law explains a number of things: inequality in 
the world, why some are born handicapped and some gifted, why some 
live only a short life. Karma underlines the importance of all 
individuals being responsible for their past and present actions. How 
can we test the karmic effect of our actions? The answer is summed up 
by looking at (1) the intention behind the action, (2) effects of the 
action on oneself, and (3) the effects on others.

20. What is Wisdom?

Buddhism teaches that wisdom should be developed with compassion. At 
one extreme, you could be a good-hearted fool and at the other 
extreme, you could attain knowledge without any emotion. Buddhism uses 
the middle path to develop both. The highest wisdom is seeing that in 
reality, all phenomena are incomplete, impermanent and do no 
constitute a fixed entity. True wisdom is not simply believing what we 
are told but instead experiencing and understanding truth and reality. 
Wisdom requires an open, objective, unbigoted mind. The Buddhist path 
requires courage patience, flexibility and intelligence.

21. What is Compassion?

Compassion includes qualities of sharing readiness to give comfort 
sympathy, concern, caring. In Buddhism, we can really understand 
others, when we can really understand ourselves, through wisdom.

22. How do I Become a Buddhist?

Buddhist teachings can be understood and tested by anyone. Buddhism 
teaches that the solutions to our problems are within ourselves not 
outside. The Buddha asked all his followers not to take his word as 
true, but rather to test the teachings for themselves. ln this way, 
each person decides for themselves and takes responsibility for their 
own actions and understanding. This makes Buddhism less of a fixed 
package of beliefs which is to be accepted in its entirety, and more 
of a teaching which each person learns and uses in their own way.


(Prepared by Brian White 1993, with thanks to Ven. S. Dhammika,
 Posted to VN-Buddhism by Binh Anson on Oct 11, 96)