Buddhism is one of the prominent Dharmic religions in the world. The religion started 2500 years ago in what is now known as India today. The religion has a following of 506 million people making up 6.6% of the world’s total population. However, by 2060 this number is expected to decrease by 5%. Although the religion originated from India, the highest percentage of Buddhists is in Cambodia, with a population of 96.80%. While Thailand has a Buddhist population of 92.6%, putting it in second place, followed by Myanmar, with a Buddhist population of 74.70%.
It is a religion that promotes love, wisdom, and self-restraint. Here are some facts and concepts you should know if you wish to familiarize yourself with Buddhism.
Nirvana is a core concept
Buddhists believe in following the path of enlightenment by detaching themselves from the world’s suffering. This concept is known as nirvana and is present in Hinduism and Buddhism. The word nirvana has Sanskrit origins and means “extinction” or “disappearance.”
Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, introduced the ideology of nirvana. Buddhists also believe he is the first person to reach a complete state of enlightenment. Nirvana promotes the concept of achieving the highest potential of wisdom, aiding you in getting rid of your worldly desires and adversity.
Unique funeral rituals
Buddhism has unique funeral traditions. Their culture and beliefs make these rituals stand out from other religions. Flowers, candles, and fruits are laid out for the departed soul. Families sometimes add their personal belongings to pay homage. Today, followers hire professional Buddhist funeral services to organize a dignified final journey for their loved ones.
Buddhists also believe in reincarnation; thus, they cremate the body. Then, they lay the deceased on the casket, seal it and send it to a crematorium. A monk or a group of monks leads the funeral ceremony at the departed soul’s home.
After the funeral, there is also a mourning period, which varies from sect to sect. Most Buddhist observe a mourning period of forty-nine days, believing this is the time it takes to reincarnate. Some Buddhists observe hundred days of mourning time. During mourning, mourners don’t attend any events and sometimes celebrate the successful reincarnation of the deceased’s soul.
The Buddhist new year
Theravada is the second largest sect in the faith, while Mahayana is the first. Depending on the sect they practice, Buddhists may or may not celebrate the new year. Countries that follow Theravada Buddhism celebrate the new year. Countries like Thailand, Sri Lanka, Burma, and Cambodia celebrate the new year from the start of the full moon in April and carry it on for the next three days.
The date of the new year festival also varies from country to ethnicity. For example, Buddhists in countries such as Korea and China follow the lunar calendar and celebrate it near late January or early February. However, Tibet celebrates it in March.
Buddhism has no holy book
Unlike all the major Abrahamic religions, the religion does not follow particular holy scripture. Instead, they follow the teachings of Gautama Buddha. The meaning of the name Buddha is the “enlightened one.” He was born in 623 BC in the holy region of Lumbini, near the Terai Plains of south Nepal. He settled in Northern India and taught there in the 6th century B.C.
Most people believe that Buddhists see Buddha as the Abrahamic God. However, Buddhism does not acknowledge the existence of a supreme god-like deity, and Buddhists consider Buddha an extraordinary and divine being. The religion solely follows his teaching and philosophy that aims to free humans from worldly sufferings.
The Doctrine of Dharma
After Buddha found wisdom, he delivered his first sermon, which spoke about how mortals could escape suffering. The doctrine is now known as “Dharma.” The doctrine consists of four noble truths. The first is that life involves pain. Buddha calls suffering an illness or duhkha. The second is that our suffering is due to our desires and wants. The third is that there is a way out of our misery. And the fourth mentions that relief from this suffering is through the “eight-fold path” that promotes ethical conduct and practices.
Buddhist monks shave their head
The sacred Buddhist teachings, also known as the Pali Vinaya-Pitaka, mention that followers of the religion should remove hair every two months. Hence, Buddhist monks and nuns shave their heads to show their devotion. It symbolizes leaving worldly desires and trends. The action of shaving the head and face is also a part of Pabbajja.
The section khandhaka states the rules of how to remove hair. The guidelines include: use a razor to cut your hair; cutting hair with scissors is forbidden unless there is a medical emergency. It also says not to pluck or dye any grey hair nor to style and brush them.
Meditation is a vital part of Buddhism
In Buddhism, the word meditation is called Bhavana, which means mental development. Bhavana is a crucial component of the faith as it keeps believers away from suffering and helps them find true liberation.
Buddhist believe that the way to teach complete nirvana is through regularly meditating. Gautama Buddha reached enlightenment through extended meditation under the Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya. Therefore, it is essential for Buddhists, especially monks, they meditate several times a day.
Buddhist meditation has a variety of techniques, such as Anapanasati, which means breathing with mindfulness. Asubha Bhavana is a practice that involves reflection on loathsomeness. Brahma-viharas translates to loving and compassion. Other techniques include pratityasamutpada, anussati, and sati. These techniques, combined with ethical conduct, help us reach a healthy and pure state of mind. It further removes desires and ego from within us.
Conclusion
Buddhism is a unique religion. It is not built on familiar concepts such as God and Satan, heaven and hell. For this reason, some argue that Buddhism is not a religion, but a philosophy and way of living life till you the soul is enlightened and free from this world. Further reading will help you develop a better understanding of this belief system.
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