Today, perhaps, one cannot find a person who has not heard anything about Buddhism. It has even become fashionable to get carried away with it, if at all such a word is applicable to religious and philosophical doctrine. Why? Buddhism is not even quite a religion. After all, it does not require any worship of God. Buddhism is not categorical, it does not deny the existence of other religions and does not require renunciation of the old life and blind faith.
Basic concepts and provisions of Buddhism
Buddhism came to China from India and has existed here for more than two millennia. He had a huge impact on Chinese culture. This was reflected in literature, painting, and, especially, in architecture. For example, it was from Buddhism that the image of a lion came to China. If you have been to China, you must have seen the sculptures of two lions in front of the entrance to banks or hotels.
Yoga and meditation practices came to China from Buddhist and Indo-Buddhist philosophy. In Buddhism, there is no prayer, as a direct appeal to God, to which Christians are accustomed. There is no God Himself, whom one could worship, and from whom one can ask for help and blessings. It is believed that Buddhas existed before the Indian prince Siddhartha Gautama and may appear now. But it was Siddhartha who described the path that is now Buddhism. In Buddhism, everything is very logical and clear. But to understand the principles of Buddhism, you need to understand several concepts: Dharma, Karma, reincarnation, the Wheel of Samsara and nirvana.
What is Dharma?
Dharma is the teachings of the Buddha, the highest truth that he revealed to all people. Dharma can be called all the right elevated actions and thoughts of a person that keep him from all misfortunes and troubles.
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Karma
The second important concept is Karma, that is, any human action (both good and bad), all his actions, words and even thoughts committed by him in any of his lives. You are aware that Buddhists believe in reincarnation or reincarnation, when after death a person is reborn in a new body. In what body he appears, maybe it will not be a person at all, and what kind of life he will have, the actions of his past lives, that is, Karma, affect.
Samsara wheel
The whole process itself is called the Wheel of Samsara, that is, the constant rebirth of a person and his constant return to earth. It turns out that we live forever. And life is suffering. Therefore, the main goal of Buddhism is to get out of the circle of the Wheel of Samsara and achieve nirvana, which Buddha did. The state of nirvana is a state of enlightenment, complete harmony, liberation from all earthly suffering. Having reached nirvana, Karma is no longer formed, and the one who has reached nirvana no longer returns to the Wheel of Samsara.
Of course, few people will be able to achieve nirvana. But you can improve your Karma and provide yourself with a happier existence in subsequent lives.