Core Values of Buddhism
There are a variety of core values of Buddhism. Buddhists have elements that are known as The Three Refugees or The Three Jewels. Buddhists take refuge in Buddha, his teachings (Dharma), and the religious community he found (Sangah). However, the biggest core value is The Four Noble Truths.
The Four Noble Truths
The Eightfold Path
Karma
Wheel Of Life (Wheel of Dharma)
The Four Noble Truths
- 1) The truth of suffering (Dukkha)
- Suffering comes in 3 forms: Old age, sickness, and death
- 2) The truth of the origin of suffering (Samudaya)
- Three roots for the origins of suffering: Greed and Desire, Ignorance or Delusion, Hatred and Destructive Urges
- 3) The truth of the cessation of suffering (Nirodha)
- Liberate one from attachment
- 4) The truth of the path to the cessation of suffering (Magga)
- Buddha's Prescription for the Eightfold Path
The Eightfold Path
- Right Understanding
- Right Intention
- Right Speech
- Right Action
- Right livelihood
- Right Effort
- Right Mindfulness
- Right Concentration
Karma
- Karma explains that the past actions we performed always affects us whether it is the present, past, or future (Afterlife)
- Karma explains how the person could be reborn and it would determine their status for their next life
- The purpose of Karma is to take control of the behaviors we did throughout our lives
Wheel Of Life (Wheel of Dharma)
- The wheel of life represents the dharma which is the Buddha's teaching to Enlightenment
- The symbolism of the Wheel of Life is deep as in the middle, there is something called the Three Fires, which is also known as the Three Causing of Suffering.
- The Three Causing of Suffering is greed, ignorance, and hatred, which can be also represented by the rooster, pig, and a snake.
- The realms of Humans are considered the best state to be born as and Buddhists believe humans have the best chance for Enlightenment
- The realms of Gods live in the state of bliss in heaven. However, Gods live for a long period of time but eventually die
- The realms of hungry ghosts are where hungry ghosts are located around the ages of mortal realm.
- The realms of animals are when humans use animals and that animals usually cannot reach Enlightenment
- Hell is the place where humans are tortured until their bad Karma is worn off.