Buddhism Basics

Buddhism is founded on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama. There are many Buddhas, but the Buddha who is well known in history was Gautama Siddhartha. The word Buddha is a title that means “one who is awake.” Those who follow the Buddhas’ teachings are called Buddhists. These teachings show us how to be more understanding, compassionate and accepting.
Buddhism was founded over 2,500 years ago. Buddhism was founded at the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains in northeastern India back in the 5th or 6th century BCE. That’s over 2,600 years ago.
Over 500 million people practice Buddhism today. This makes Buddhism the 4th largest religion in the world. The largest number of Buddhists lives in Asia. Over 240,000,000 live in China alone. But Buddhism is vastly growing and may soon become one of the major religions of the world.

​The Buddha

The Buddha was a prince named Siddhartha.The life story of Siddhartha begins in present day Nepal. He was born as a prince in the royal Skakya family. Although he was raised in luxury, he was unhappy when he saw people suffer so much in the world. Leaving his wealth and royal title, he went into the forest and became a wandering monk. For six years, he practiced meditation and contemplated on how to help people stop suffering and find true happiness. Sitting in meditation one night, he became a Buddha, “one who is awake”. He was then called Buddha Shakyamuni, which means holy man of the Shakya clan. He saw that everyone has a compassionate and enlightened nature inside and can become a Buddha.

For the rest of his life, he traveled throughout India spreading his message of kindness, compassion, joy and peace. Going against tradition, he taught both men and women, rich and poor, and kings and slaves equally. (Read more about the Buddha’s life: Under the Bodhi Tree.)

The Four Dharma Seals

Anicca, Dukkha, Anatta, and Nirvana.

The Four Seals: Anicca

Anicca (impermanence)

Everything in life, our feelings and thoughts, people, animals, plants, bacteria and countries are always changing and reacting. Without change, there could be no life, no flowers, no grandparents, and no happiness.

​The Four Seals: Dukkha

Dukkha (suffering)

People suffer because they want things to be permanent when they are not. They cling to things that are ending and try to avoid things that are unpleasant. But thanks to change, we can change suffering into happiness.

​The Four Seals: Anatta

Anatta (non-self):  

Nothing lives on its own, not even you or me. We are alive due to our parents, air, food, water, and everything around us. We cannot even remain the same for two moments. We are born, grow old, get sick and die. There is nothing that can be called a permanent “I” or a soul. That which carries on to our next life is our life force, or karma. The concept of “me” and “mine” is an illusion we create with our minds.

The Four Seals: Nirvana

Nirvana (true peace)

By accepting and understanding that change is a part of life, we can be content with what we have and who are. We can reach the state of Nirvana, a state of complete selflessness. The word nirvana means to blow out a candle. It is not a place, like heaven, but more a state of being in harmony with the universe, and is beyond words.