What is Buddhism? Origin, characteristics, trends, Nirvana and more!

Buddhism is an eastern philosophy of life founded in India that seeks inner peace, reducing people’s suffering through its teachings, questions about the universe, views and practices. There is no worship of gods and no rigid religious hierarchies compared to Western beliefs, as it is an individual pursuit.

Through meditative practices, mind control, self-analysis of daily actions and good practices, they lead the individual to complete happiness. Buddhists believe that this physical and spiritual awareness leads them to enlightenment and elevation, this belief can also be found in other spiritualist paths.

This religion, or philosophy of life, is more commonly seen and practiced in eastern countries than in western countries. Read this article and learn everything about Buddhism such as the life of Buddha, History, Symbols, Strands, among others.

Everything involving Buddhism generates interest in people, causing some to adopt some practices in their lives and it is not necessary to be part of that religion for that. See in the next topics the history of Buddhism, of Buddha, its origin, expansion and characteristics.

Buddhism is characterized by the use of teachings so that human beings can detach themselves from everything that harms themselves and others, such as anger, envy, violence, replacing it with love and good attitudes. One of the lessons learned in this philosophy is detachment, because everything in life is transitory, nothing lasts forever.

In addition, Buddhism encompasses traditions, beliefs and spiritual practices based on the Buddha’s teachings and their interpretations, with Theravada and Mahayana as major branches. In the year 2020 it was the fourth largest religion in the world with over 520 million followers.

The life story of the Buddha, as the world knows, was that of Siddhartha Gautama, born in India in 563 BC and a prince of the Sakia dynasty. Gautama spent his childhood sheltered from the outside world in his home until one day he decided to go outside and, for the first time, he saw a sick man, an old man and a dead man.

After seeing and finding out about human suffering, he met a traveler in search of spiritual enlightenment, thought that this individual would bring him answers to his questions and decided to join the practitioner to become enlightened. Afterwards, he shaved his head as a sign of humility and exchanged his luxurious robes for a simple orange suit.

He also renounced all material pleasures, eating only fruits that fell into his lap. This idea was not very good, as he began to become malnourished. From this, he concluded that neither extreme is good, neither living on pleasures nor living on the denial of these pleasures, but the best way to live is in the middle way.

At age 35, after meditating under a tree for 49 days, he reached Nirvana, creating the 4 noble truths. After his enlightenment, he proceeded to the city of Benares, on the bank of the Ganges River, to convey his discoveries and events.

After the Buddha decided to share his path to reach enlightenment and the end of suffering for others, his teachings became mixed with the beliefs of Hinduism, an Indian religious tradition that adapts to each region of the country. Each individual was free to practice and study it.

At the age of 45, his doctrine and teachings such as the “Four Truths” and “Eight Paths” were already known in all regions of India. However, only centuries after his death were the Buddhist precepts defined, prevailing two schools: Theravada and Mahayana.

Buddhism was expanding across the various regions of Ancient India 3 centuries after Gautama’s death. After spreading to Asian countries around the 7th century, it ended up being more forgotten in India, with Hinduism remaining the religion of the majority of the Indian people.

Only in 1819 did it arrive in Europe and there were some new concepts made by a German named Arthur Schopenhauer. Then, it finally expanded around the world, with several Buddhist temples in some countries of Europe, the Americas and Australia.

In Brazil, Buddhism has characteristics similar to those of other countries, for example, the fact that this country is home to Japanese and descendants brought several Buddhist priests and instructors who spread throughout the Brazilian territory. Over time, Japanese descendants became Catholic and Buddhism was forgotten.

However, according to the IBGE (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics) censuses, the number of followers and practitioners of Buddhism began to increase from 2010. Brazilians who are not of Japanese descent began to seek and study more about this religion and converting to it, although many convert to other religions or none.

Buddhism has characteristics that make it unique and welcoming to anyone, using a series of teachings and meditation practices for detachment from matter and suffering, towards spiritual evolution. In this philosophy, there is no beginning or end, Nirvana being the ideal stage, but it can only be perceived and not taught.

In addition, the subject of karma is also widely discussed in this religion, all intentions and attitudes, good or bad, have consequences in this or the next life. Rebirth, or reincarnation, is a natural part of life until one leaves the cycle of suffering, reaching enlightenment. This cycle is called the “Wheel of Samsara”, governed by the laws of karma.

The main difference is that in Hinduism there is the belief and worship of gods. In addition, it is a philosophy of a religious order that encompasses cultural traditions, values ​​and beliefs through other peoples, wishing to reach knowledge through the gods.

Buddhists, on the other hand, do not believe in gods and seek Nirvana, which is the full state of peace and happiness, through the teachings of Buddha. As it spread to Asian countries, it had more followers in China, becoming the official religion of that country.

Like many other religions and philosophies, Buddhism also has symbols that it uses in its teachings. To discover the meaning of the symbols of Buddhism, read the following texts.

The image is a golden chariot wheel with eight spokes, representing the Buddha’s teachings and being the oldest Buddhist symbol found in Indian arts. In addition to Wheel of Dharma, it can also be translated as Wheel of Doctrine, Wheel of Life, Wheel of Law or simply called Dharmachakra.

The Wheel of Dharma corresponds to the main law of the universe and represents the summary of all Buddha’s teachings, while the spokes represent the Noble Eightfold Path, which are the main foundations of Buddhism. In other words, it describes the cycle of death and rebirth that is natural for all beings until they reach enlightenment, ending that cycle.

The lotus (padma) is an aquatic plant that blooms from water, its roots grow through the mud in the mud of lakes and ponds and then rises to the surface to flower. The Lotus is similar to the Victoria Régia, which is also an aquatic plant and is native to the Amazon region, with some minor differences.

As a Buddhist symbol, it portrays purity of body, mind and spiritual elevation. The muddy water is associated with attachment and the ego, while the plant that grows in the middle of this water reaches the surface and its flower blooms, associating it with the search for light and enlightenment. Furthermore, in some Asian religions such as Hinduism, deities appear seated on a lotus flower in meditation.

In Buddhism, the Golden Fish represent beings who practice the Dharma, are not afraid of falling into suffering, can choose their rebirth and are free to go wherever they want. In addition to symbolizing good luck, these animals are sacred in India and have other representations such as freedom and the Ganges and Yamuna rivers.

Shells are shells that protect molluscs and other small, soft-bodied marine animals. They symbolize power and protection, especially from authorities such as parents and teachers who educate and teach about life. Furthermore, it represents direct speech and the awakening of beings from ignorance.

The Infinite Knot has the iconography of fluid and intertwined lines creating a closed pattern, which can be described as four interconnected rectangles, two on the left diagonal and two on the right diagonal, or, some interconnected squares seeming to form a hexagonal.

In Buddhism, this symbol represents the dependent origination and interrelationship of all manifestations. In addition, it symbolizes the cause and effect of the union of compassion and wisdom, two characteristics that are important to live with more fullness and less suffering.

Buddhism has several schools, each belonging to a different branch. Some are more traditional and ancient, others use more practice to reach the same path as others, enlightenment. Keep reading and learn more about Theravada, Mahayana and the different aspects of Buddhism.

In a literal translation, Theravada means Teachings of the Elders and is one of the main strands of Buddhism based on the oldest and most complete record of Buddha’s teachings, the Pali Tipitaka. This strand is more conservative and centered on the monastic life of forms of this religion.

Theravada is focused on Dhamma principles and simply addresses such principles as discipline, the ethical conduct of monks, meditation, and inner wisdom. Currently this aspect is more practiced in Thailand, Sri Lanka, Burma, Laos and in some regions of South and Southeast Asia.

Mahayana means The Great Way and is the most numerous tradition of the strands with its origins since Siddhartha Gautama’s passage on the planet, having the writings preserved in Chinese as his teachings spread across Asia.

This school argues that anyone can follow and walk the path of enlightenment and reach it, also claiming that its teachings are relevant to all people. Mahayana is the dominant strand of Buddhism that is present in India and is currently practiced in China, Korea, Taiwan, Japan and also in Vietnam.

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