what is meant to be Buddhist

What is meant to be Buddhist

Alot of people who are Buddhist especially the young today do not understand what Buddhism is truely about. Most people go to temple just to pray for many things, peace, health, solutions, success. Some also go to temples to seek direction to their problems.

However Buddhism is more than that.
I hope this post is able to shed some light.

All Buddhist should know the following
And try their best to practice it.

1) The "Triple Gem", "Three jewels" or "Three treasures" they refer to the Buddha, the Dharma (The teachings of the Buddha - truth) , the Sangha (Monks). If possible a Buddhist should daily remember this. I do this with a chant in Pali which was believe the ancient language spoken by Buddha "Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma-sambuddhassa." X3 times (Which means in english - I pay homage to the Blessed One, the Worthy One, the Fully Enlightened One.)

2) The Four Noble Truth and Noble Eight-fold Paths (This is the teaching of Buddha to be free from pain and suffering and find true happiness)

The Four Noble Truths

1. Life is full of suffering

2. Suffering is a result of ignorance, greed and aversion.

3. There is a solution - Nirvana. This is true happiness.

4. The Truth of the Path to the Nirvana is the Noble Eight-fold Path

The Noble Eight-fold Path

1. Right Views (Understanding)
2. Right Thoughts
3. Right Speech
4. Right Conduct (Actions)
5. Right Livelihood (Work)
6. Right Effort
7. Right Mindfulness
8. Right Meditation

This is just a summary, read more on
The Four Noble Truth and Noble Eight-fold Paths for more details.

3) Five Percepts

The Five Precepts are:

1. Do not kill
2. Do not steal
3. Do not indulge in sexual misconduct
4. Do not make false speech
5. Do not take intoxicants

This 5 percepts is unique in the sense anyone can undertake and practice it. You dont have to be a Buddhist, people from any religion can practice it. By practicing it well it ensures a good rebirth in the heavens. Read more in the 5 Percepts.

4) Understand Karma - Basically is to help one abandon evil and to do good.
By understand karma one realise doing this bad deed will only result in it being done to me at a later time. By doing good will only bring more positive results in my life. This will give the individual more patience, sense of power as everything that happens lies in the hand of the individual. He or she will understand the situation and problems they face are their own result. Read introduction to karma for better understanding and Lian Fan 4 lessons.

5) Practice the Noble Eight-fold Path
especially Right Meditation. Everything else is just to create the correct conditions for Meditation. With the right meditation can only one gain Nirvana and be enlighted.

You should however take note that a Buddhist doesn't means the individual can do no wrong. It means He or she has started to understand the truth and practice towards it.

So in future when we go to a temple and see a statue of Buddha. Remember the Buddha and his teachings, instead of worship (asking for worldly favours) seek to pay homage. To a Buddhist the image of the Buddha is merely a token, a symbol, a representation, which helps him recall or remember the Buddha. They seek to gain inspiration from his noble personality and follow his noble teachings.