Buddhism
Buddhism
What teachings would a convert to Buddhism have to accept? A convert Buddhism would have to take into account many guidelines to help them progress on the spiritual path to enlightenment, but as these teachings are only guidelines a Buddhist does not have to follow them.
One of the most basic Buddhist beliefs is known as the `3 Refuges'. A refuge is a place of shelter and safety from harm. The 3 things or `refuges' that Buddhists find safety or shelter in, when in times of trouble, are chanted in the `Tisinara'. They are: (Pali version) - Buddham saranam gacchami Dhammam saranam gacchami Sangham saranam gacchami This means in English - I take refuge in the Buddha I take refuge in the Dharma I take refuge in the Sangha Buddha is the enlightened being, Dharma is the teaching, and Sangha is the community.
A Buddhist can find refuge in the Buddha, as he is the first to find enlightenment, and he is an inspiration to find enlightenment. As he is a normal human figure A Buddhist can find refuge in the Dharma, as they are the teachings of the Buddha, and can help you to reach enlightenment, as it is there to give a Buddhist advice.
A Buddhist can find refuge in the Sangha, as this is the community of Buddhists. They can help and support you to find the right path to enlightenment. Another teaching a Buddhist may follow is The Three Marks of Conditioned Existence, Anicca, Anatta, and Dukkha. `Conditional Existence' is the idea that everyone depends on something else. For example a fish can't live without water, or a human can't live without air. Everything that exists needs something else to survive.
Anicca is the first mark of existence; it is a Buddhist assertion that `everything changes'. This is the idea that nothing is permanent, things are constantly changing, and nothing is fixed. Everything depends on conditions, which themselves can change. For example even stars and galaxies are gradually...
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