In recent decades, our country is reviving interest in religion.People trying to understand the meaning of life and find answers to questions about how to achieve harmony and get rid of suffering, turning their attention not only on Christianity as the main traditional faith in our country, but also to the wise ancient truths of the East.One such religion is Buddhism.
doctrine of consciousness
Buddhism as an ethical doctrine, religion, philosophy and cultural tradition was born in the sixth century BC in the northeast of the ancient Indian civilization.Subsequently, Buddhism became one of the three world religions, along with Christianity and Islam, and is the eldest of them.
Christianity came later has more than five centuries, and Islam - twelve.Buddhism is recognized by different peoples of the world and is the main religion of many countries of the East: China, India, Nepal, Japan, Thailand, Korea, Mongolia and others.In our country, its followers are residents of Kalmykia, Buryatia and Tuva.An increasing number of followers is this teaching in the West, attracting not only for its exotic, but the ability of many latent abilities that each person has.
Buddhism is defined not only as a religion but also as a philosophical doctrine of liberation and awakening of consciousness, spiritual enlightenment.It was founded by the Buddha Shakyamuni, who is known to all as the Indian prince Siddhartha Gautama.
Unusual Prince
on the territory of modern Nepal is an ancient town of Lumbini, which BC was one of the Indian provinces.Presumably in the year 563 BC, and it is here that was born in the royal family Prince Gautama, who inherited the throne should go father Raja.But despite the fact that the prince in no way needed and lived in luxury, he always felt an inner dissatisfaction with their situation.He is endlessly indulged in vague dreams and day-dreams, could sit for hours in the shade of trees, reflecting on the meaning of life.When immersed in deep contemplation he attended the extraordinary moments of enlightenment consciousness.
Raju began to disturb the character of the son, and he was trying to protect him from the knowledge of human suffering and of religious instruction.But even at the birth of the Prince was one of the soothsayers prophesied that Gautam is to become a great ruler or a saint.Despite the best efforts of his father, aimed at making the king's son, Prince has been prepared for the second path - spiritual enlightenment.And it has identified one case, which occurred with Gautam on a walk.
True Life
According to legend, the prince wanted to know more about the lives of ordinary people, and it went beyond the palace.There he met one by one sick person, a decrepit old man, a funeral procession and wandering hermit.From conversations with the servant, and he met people, he realized that illness, aging, suffering and death are inevitable, and people accept it.Gautama realized that no one can control their own destiny, with the result that even the pleasure of the rich turn to dust, and life has no meaning.From this moment it was completely lost serenity of his childhood and youth, and then her life has become as unacceptable to him.Overcome by revulsion to everything around the world, he decided to refuse the inheritance, the family, property and homes to taking monastic vows, dedicate his life to the study of how to get rid of suffering and overcome them.
path to awakening
In 29 years now former Prince began to study all known then the East philosophies and yogic meditation practice, becoming a disciple of Yogi mentors.He was able to achieve higher levels of consciousness, but he was not satisfied with this, as tormented his questions and problems of life and suffering were not allowed.
why he decided to leave their mentors and privacy in the jungle south-eastern India, by way of severe self-torture.Becoming a recluse and taking a stern ascetic life, six years later, he found that such methods are more exhausting body and muddy one's thinking, not closer to the truth of liberation from suffering.
Then Gautama focused on deep meditation, and staying in it, to realize that you need to avoid extremes and not to engage in self-torture or unnecessary indulging yourself and take the middle path.Sitting under a tree, jambu, which later became known as the Bodhi tree, he gave his word that will not rise and come out of meditation, while it has not become the truth.
Awakening
One May night in a full moon Gautama, focusing on the rising of the morning star, has reached full enlightenment.The moment when, finally, the truth came to him in all its splendor, he reached the awakening and liberation of his consciousness.Former Prince Gautama became the Buddha."Buddha" - it is "awakened", "totally enlightened."
At the time of enlightenment, Gautam not only saw with extraordinary clarity of his entire life, but also felt the universal connection of all mankind with the invisible world.The universe appeared before his eyes, in his strength and infinity.Rest nowhere.Everything is carried away into the unknown distance.Everything in the world is connected, and one of the other events occur.All beings are destroyed and reborn again.Thirst for existence and life disturbs the peace in the soul and leads it on the path of suffering - he now clearly aware of this.Gautama Buddha is now knew exactly what he needs to struggle to find peace and get rid of this terrible reality and imperfect world filled with suffering, tears, sorrow and pain.
Transfiguration and the birth of the doctrine
Seeing the universe in its true light, and came out of the darkness of ignorance, Gautam completed the search for truth and attained spiritual transformation.He changed and gained great wisdom and compassion for all living things.Later, teaching his disciples, he argued that compassion - a necessary quality that should have awakened the true - Buddha.This property can comprehend only the enlightened mind, it is available a little soul, wandering in the dark.
change internally, Buddha realized that his mission is to not only to enjoy the fruits of his enlightenment, but also to make people open their great truth.This was the main reason for the creation of his teachings.It is based on the assertion that life - is suffering.The Buddha pointed out the main reasons for this imperfection.He argued that for the liberation of all suffering is necessary to attain enlightenment and the awakening of consciousness.Way necessary for spiritual elevation and liberation from suffering - the way to nirvana.Nirvana - the highest state of enlightenment and bliss, which was able to achieve the Buddha.This, he claims, is available to every living thing, and everyone should strive for such release.So, the former prince was established doctrine of the Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Path achieve higher states of consciousness.
itinerant preacher
Many uninformed people believe that the Buddha - a god.But he denied it, saying that is only a mentor to those who choose to go through to achieve enlightenment and awakening.Before Gautama himself had to choose whether he enjoyed his own release, or give their experience to others."Compassion - one of the most important qualities," - said the Buddha.This was a decisive factor in order to guide future life as an itinerant preacher.He took his mission - to bring to people the doctrine of deliverance from suffering.
During the first 45 years of Indian awakened Buddha traveled all over the country, passing his experience most people of different classes and castes.His teaching was open to all, even for adherents of other religions and philosophies.To preserve the teachings, the Buddha and his followers created a monastic community, which take thousands of converts.
For many centuries, the teachings of Gautama has not lost its relevance.Also present in the world of suffering, disease, poverty, death and tears.Also, people are looking for ways of liberation from misfortunes and troubles and find solace in faith.Many of them are turning to Buddhism as a religion, pointing the way to the changes in life.And they all aspire to the knowledge of the states of consciousness that are able to grasp the Buddha.In philosophy, this is the ultimate goal of understanding the meaning of life and the mysteries of the major issues of disclosure of existence.
