Teachings of Buddhism?

All of Buddhism, revolves around the Four Noble Truths & the Eightfold Path. They are as follows:

THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS

Suffering exists and is unavoidable

The cause of suffering is craving

The end of suffering is the extinguishment of all craving

The way leading to the end of suffering is The Eightfold Path

THE EIGHTFOLD PATH (aka. The Three Trainings)

Pañña [Wisdom]

- Right View: understanding skillful behavior in terms of cause and effect and the Four Noble Truths and how they fit into the overall scheme of the Buddha's teachings

- Right Intention: generosity, letting go, loving-kindness, and compassion

Sīla [Morality]

- Right Speech: telling the truth and avoiding malicious talk, harsh language, and gossip

- Right Action: the principles for leading an ethical life; abstaining from killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, and intoxication

- Right Livelihood: choosing an appropriate profession that is important to spiritual practice

Samadhi [Meditation]

- Right Effort: preventing negative states of mind, overcoming negative states of mind, cultivating positive states of mind, and maintaining positive states of mind

- Right Mindfulness: the practice of mindfulness meditation; cultivating mindfulness of body, feelings, mind, and thoughts

- Right Concentration: the stages of deep absorption reached in meditation

Okay. That is the basic "theory" of Buddhism. It all revolves around developing wisdom around the fact of suffering. The practice is essentially asking yourself everyday - "How do I free myself, and all others, of this suffering?" This is the same question the Buddha himself asked that began this whole thing we call Buddhism. When the Buddha spoke of suffering, he said:

"Birth is dukkha, aging is dukkha, death is dukkha; sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief, & despair are dukkha; association with the unbeloved is dukkha; separation from the loved is dukkha; not getting what is wanted is dukkha. In short, the five clinging-aggregates [of body, feeling, perception, mind, & consciousness] are dukkha."

Suffering is the common translation of the Pali term "dukkha". Dukkha can also be translated as dissatisfaction, discontent, or dis-ease. The practice of Buddhism is this study of dukkha and the release from dukkha.

As already noted, the Eightfold Path is a threefold training in wisdom, morality, and meditation. Wisdom is coming to see and know dukkha as it really is. Purifying morality and practicing daily meditation are the keys to gaining this wisdom. Regarding morality, the Buddha gave five specific guidelines he believed to be on our best interest. They are as follows:

1. Refraining from taking the life of any living creature.

2. Refraining from taking that which is not given.

3. Refraining from sexual misconduct.

4. Refraining from false and harmful speech.

5. Refraining from consuming intoxicating drinks and drugs which lead to carelessness.

These are known as the Five Precepts. As you cultivate and purify morality and meditation, your wisdom becomes stronger. As your wisdom becomes stronger, your morality and meditation become more pure. It's cyclical, not linear.

Train yourself in skillful thoughts, speech, and actions. Train yourself to make peace, be kind, and be gentle in each and every moment. Train to not only work with the neurotic mind, but also on fully opening a heart of unconditional love and compassion. This is the practice of Buddhism.

The best way to learn about Buddhism is to associate and learn from those who practice Buddhism. Visit local temples, monasteries, and/or groups in your area. The following link may help you find one nearby: http://www.buddhanet.info/wbd/

Here are some other links that may be beneficial:

Basic Buddhism:

http://www.justbegood.net/BasicBuddhism.htm

Basic Buddhism Guide:

http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/basic-guide.ht...

Article: "What is Buddhism?"

http://www.dhammaloka.org.au/component/k2/item/577...

The Noble Eightfold Path

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/bodhi/w...

Meditation Description & Links

/question/index?qid=20160...

Hope this helps. May much happiness, peace, and joy be always with you :)

Selflessness

Reflection

Happiness

Enlightenment

Over 2,500 years ago, the Buddha discovered the true reality of nature (Four Noble Truths) by himself and taught others about these truths. This can be compared with a scientist who uncovers any fact that already exists in the nature and tells people about it. Collectively, his teachings are called Dhamma (Dharma).

The Four Noble Truths (Ariya-Sacca) are the ultimate truths that the noble ones (Ariya-Puggala) see but ordinary people cannot: in this world, there is no animal, person, or self but only groups of natural elements (earth, water, fire, air, and mind) that temporarily assemble together. These elements are all Body and Mind -- also known as Rupa and Nama, 5 Khandas or 5 Aggregates-- but we call them dog, cat, man, etc.

We initially borrow them from the earth, use them, and eventually give them back to the original owner. Because we do not know this reality (Ignorance); we believe that we own this Body and Mind (Attachment, Clinging). We therefore love them and will do anything to make them happy and to escape any unhappiness. Consequences of the Desire (Craving) and its accompanying actions are enormous, and as a result, we suffer from it.

In order to comprehend these truths that seem to be unreal to an ordinary person, one has to study and to practice Satipatthana (= Vipassana = Insight Meditation). This is the most straightforward way to realize the true nature of Body and Mind.

At first, one has to observe one’s body and mind again and again until one is able to separate between the two. The body stays in one part while the mind stays in another part. When the body moves, the mind perceives that movement. When the mind moves, another mind acknowledges it.

The body is a heap of elements (earth, water, fire, and air) from which our parents borrow from the earth and pass to us. We grow from the same substances taken from the land and, one day, we will give them back. Actually, these elements are returned to the earth all the time: in the form of exhaled air, flatus, feces, urine and sweat.

Physical pain and discomfort force the body to alternate its postures frequently among standing, sitting, walking, and lying down. It is a heavy burden for the body to breathe, to eat, to drink, to defecate, to pass gas, to urinate, to scratch, to take a shower, to brush teeth, to watch TV, to listen to music, to work, etc. This body cannot avoid aging, illness, and death. It is therefore suffering, uncontrollable and not self.

The mind rises and falls rapidly and it has been working non-stop all day and all night--as a dream. The mind is oppressed by the desire to seek happiness for both the body and the mind. It must see, hear, think, smell, taste, and touch from that oppression. It also alternates among happiness, unhappiness, good, and bad. We can’t order only happiness and wholesomeness. We can’t refuse grief or unwholesomeness. The mind is therefore suffering, impermanent, uncontrollable and not self.

When we constantly observe our body and mind until we accept that they are not ourselves, the mind will enter the level of the Stream-enterer (Sotapanna). When the mind finally lets go of the body and mind, the Enlightenment will be attained. A person is then called the Worthy One (Arahant). This achievement of Enlightenment is the ultimate goal of Buddhism.

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