buddhism
...his, at the age of 29, he decided that he wasn’t happy living the way he had been…so sheltered and naïve. So he gave up all material things and lived 6 years of suffering and at the brink of death. He came to the realization that this was leading him nowhere and that there must be a middle of the two extremes that he had lived. So he sat in meditation beneath a bodhi tree for many days. And with the rising sun, after the full moon of May, he became Buddha, the Enlightened one. He wandered the plains of Northeastern India for 45 years searching for the path of life he had realized at that moment until his death in 486 BC. One hundred-forty-five years after his death Buddhist monks held council and the religion was split into two different beliefs: Theravada and Mahayana. Theravada Buddhists believe that reaching Nirvana is only capable through self effort and in order to reach it you must meditate only…prayer is unnecessary. They believe that the highest virtue is wisdom. Mahayana Buddhists believe that you can ask for help on your journey to reaching nirvana, that anyone can achieve Nirvana, and that you must pray to Buddha in order to achieve nirvana. They believe that the highest virtue is compassion. A quote from the Dhammapada says “To do no evil, To cultivate good, To purify one’s mind. This is the teaching of the Buddha’s.” These teachings as well as their beliefs take form in the 4 Noble Truths which states 1) Life is Suffering, 2) Suffering arises from attachment to desires, 3) Suffering ceases when attachment to desire ceases, and 4) Freedom from suffering can be achieved by following the 8 Fold Path. The 8 Fold Path explains, through three qualities, wisdom, morality, and meditation, how someone can free themselves from suffering. By having the right view, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right contemplation. If you are able to do these eight things, avoiding all hindrances, like sloth, restlessness, worry, lust, and doubt, you will be able to achieve Nirvana, the state of Enlightenment and the end o suffering. In order to reach a state of Nirvana you must also follow the same practices of the Buddha. You must engage in mindfulness and consciousness of all that is around you. The way to achieve this is through meditation, or Zen. Meditation is a very simple process. First, take a seat with your back straight and assume the lotus position where you s...