Sasha Biggers

World Religions, Humanities 2300

Summer Semester 2015

Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion that offers guidelines toward enlightenment, or awakening
to universal Truth, and an end of suffering. In this paper, I will share my learnings of
Buddhism, the Four Noble Truths, and the Eightfold Path toward enlightenment, as well
as my experience with meditation at the Salt Lake Buddhist Temple.
Often misunderstood as a theistic religion that worships a deity, known as the
Buddha, Buddhism is actually non-theistic. It is more a philosophical practice of striving
toward enlightenment, by releasing attachment to self, and understanding the
interconnectivity of all living thingsthat all living things are one. The Buddha was
simply a man who attained enlightenment and shared his experience and knowledge with
others. Buddhists at the Parliament of the Worlds Religions in 1993 explained that they
do not worship the Buddha in the following quote:
Shakyamuni Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, was not God or a god.
He was a human being who attained full enlightenment through meditation and
showed us the path of spiritual awakening and freedom. Therefore, Buddhism is
not a religion of God. Buddhism is a religion of wisdom, enlightenment and
compassion Buddhists believe that salvation and enlightenment are available to
all through removal of defilements and delusion, and a life of meditation (Living
Religions).

Buddha is a Sanskrit term for enlightened one. The man regarded as The
Buddha was born Siddhartha Gautama, 6th century B.C.E., in what is now modern day
Nepal. His father, King Suddhodana, was leader of a large clan called the Shakya. His
mother, Queen Maya, died shortly after his birth. (Buddhism.about.com) Although
precise details of Prince Siddharthas upbringing are historically hazy, it is deduced that
he lived a life of wealth and great privilege, experiencing the luxury of fine clothes,
white umbrellas for shade, perfumes, cosmetics, a mansion for each season, the company
of female musicians, and a harem of dancing girls (Living Religions). Sheltered from
the outside world, growing tired and bored of his routine surroundings, Prince Siddhartha
arranged for a chariot to take him on a trip to the countryside to experience new sights.
On his trip, Siddhartha saw four sights by which he was quite bewildered. The four
things he saw were: a crippled old man, a sick person, a corpse, and a holy man with no
belongings but a begging bowl, who sought only everlasting happiness over the comforts
of material pleasures.
Dismayed by the impermanence of youth, health, and life, and intrigued by the
holy man who was content with no earthly possessions, Siddhartha set forth on a journey
at the age of 29, seeking understanding, and to find liberation from suffering. He left the
comforts of his palace, renounced his wealth and family, and began an ascetic venture.
Siddhartha sought out renowned teachers and religious philosophers, to which he
learned some, but seeking more, he continued his journey with five disciples in continued
search of enlightenment. The six companions attempted to find release from suffering
through physical disciplineenduring pain, holding their breath, fasting nearly to
starvation (Buddhism.about.com). Sometimes he ate but a grain of rice a day, or stood

for days on end. Yet five years of this brought him no nearer to his goal, so he gave up
austerity (Great Religions of the World). He shifted his path toward a Middle Way that
rejected both self-indulgence and self-denial. Physically withered and skeletal, mentally
exhausted and depleted, Siddhartha realized he needed physical strength and better health
to continue his journey. He accepted a bowl of milk and rice from a young girl, and
began a period of reflection. Revived by the physical and mental support of nourishment,
he sat down under a tree in Bodh Gaya, India, and meditated.
During meditative trances in the nights three watches he recollected his previous
existences, acquired the divine eye by which he envisaged the death and rebirth of all
creatures of all time, and at last reached a higher state in which the outflows of his life
his ignorance and desireswere finally quelled (Great Religions of the World). This
is the time when Siddhartha grasped the Four Noble Truths:
1) All in the world is sorrow and suffering. Suffering is known as
dukkha.
2) All suffering stems from craving the pleasures of life.
3) The end to suffering can come only by ending craving.
4) The way to end craving lies in an Eightfold Path.
The Eightfold Path holds eight rights, which are steps, or principles, that when
practiced whole-heartedly, with 100% intention, will lead to enlightenment, or nirvana.
The eight rights of the Eightfold Path are:
1) Right Viewsunderstanding correctly through deep realization of the
Four Noble Truths
2) Right Resolveproper motivation, undeterred by emotions or desires

3) Right Speechavoiding gossip, lying, harsh words, and speaking only

in the interest of positivity and truth
4) Right Conductno killing, lying, stealing, sexual misconduct, or
partaking of intoxicants
5) Right Livelihoodchoosing a lifestyle and/or occupation that
promotes harmony and does not harm any living thing
6) Right Effortstriving to continually practice the preceding rights,
focusing on only wholesome actions of mind, body, and language
7) Right Mindfulnessawareness of the present, and avoidance of
dwelling on the past or anxious anticipation of the future
8) Right Concentrationmeditation and quieting the mind; mental
stillness and discipline

In understanding the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold path, it is prudent to
understand the concept of Karma. Karma is the law of moral causation. The cause of
suffering, as well as the cause of happiness, comes as the result of actions. Actions in the
present, as well as actions in previous lifetimes, carry Karmic result. Actions that harbor
ill-will or malice will result in appropriate Karmic retribution. The same goes for actions
of benevolence. Actions of compassion and harmonious consideration are met with
positivity, and something of a reward.
Reincarnation is the Karmic result of previous lifetimes. Contrary to common
belief, reincarnation of a person into another person, or another lifeform, is not a doctrine
of Buddhism. Anatman--the soul, or self in Buddhism, is a mental construct, and is

temporary, confined to one lifetime. Buddhists do not believe in a soul or permanent self.
Annica is the term for impermanence in Buddhism, and is an understanding that
everything changes and is in a constant state of flux. This applies to the soul and self.
When someone dies, neither that person, nor their soul is reincarnated as another being.
It is rather the Karmic energy that is reborn. It is difficult for both Westerners and
Easterners to comprehend the actual concept of Buddhist reincarnation. Many question,
What is reincarnated if not the soul? Energy never dies, so it is energy that is borne
forth in reincarnation. The soul or self is an identity, and is thought basedthoughts of
me and my. But energy has no thoughts. When a being passes from this lifetime, the
self dissolves, but the Karmic energy does not die. The energy is then transmigrated into
another lifeform, carrying the moral burden and/or benefit harvested from former
existences, to grow and journey further toward enlightenment and nirvana.
Understanding Karmas influence in this and subsequent lifetimes, Buddhists, and
other believers of Karma, are inspired to practice good deeds. The law of moral
causation tells believers that good deeds will be met with some form of reward, positivity,
happiness, comfort, etc. Knowledge and practice of the Eightfold path improves ones
Karmic reserves.
The best way of implementing the Eightfold Path is to practice meditation.
Meditation is a way of quieting the mind, calming anxieties, soothing fears, uprooting
anger and hatred, and clearing confusion. Meditation is the most commonly regarded
practice of Buddhism. Meditation is a means of transforming the mind. Buddhist
meditation practices are techniques that encourage and develop concentration, clarity,
emotional positivity, and a calm perception of the true nature of things. By engaging

with a particular meditation practice one learns the patterns and habits of the mind, and
the practice offers a means to cultivate new, more positive ways of being. With regular
work and patience, these nourishing, focused states of mind can deepen into profoundly
peaceful and energized states of mind. Such experiences can have a transformative effect
and can lead to a new understanding of life (thebuddhistcentre.com).
I have never studied Buddhism before I took the World Religions class at Salt
Lake Community College. But I have practiced meditation by way of yoga,
transformational workshops, and stress-relief therapy, and have had rather profound
experiences. Two times in particular I achieved what I believe to be enlightenment, if
only for relatively short periods of time. I reached a state of absolute peace and
understanding. It is difficult to describe, but it was almost euphoric, except without
an egoist sense of glory or indulgence. I was effortlessly aligned with all that is. I felt
no strife or doubt, no questioning or ill-ease. I understood everything as simply
being, and all was illuminated.
I recently attended a meditation class at the Salt Lake Buddhist Temple that
practices the Japanese Jodo Shinsu Honganji Ha branch of Buddhism. I was a little
surprised to see that the majority of attendees were Caucasian. Nonetheless, it was
an authentically awesome Buddhist experience. The facilitator was a man by the
name of Bob Weitzel. The practice was initiated by five minutes of chanting an
ancient Chinese sutra, or scripture. We were then told to sit comfortably, so that we

could remain still, and proceeded to meditate for 20 minutes. Bob stated, Your leg
will probably fall asleep, but I encourage you to resist the desire to move or readjust.
It was initially very comfortable to just sit calmly and focus on my breathing. But not
long after, my leg did fall asleep and it was difficult to stay present with the
meditation. I asked him afterward why one is advised to stay with the discomfort of a
leg that falls asleep, or other pains and discomforts. He answered with a very valid
point. He said, So after your leg fell asleep and you continued to meditate, what
happened? I said, Hmmmm. Well, uh. It went away. I forgot about it. He
replied, Exactly. I had somewhat of an epiphany, understanding the point from a
spiritual view. Life is pain. Life is dukkha. One should stay with pain as it comes,
avoiding deterrents, such as intoxicants, distractions, or other ways of avoidance.
Eventually, one moves through the pain, and can be elevated to a new level of
consciousness. I had forgotten the discomfort, and continued to focus on my
breathing. For a few brief moments, I felt almost nothing except a pleasant sensation
of floating. It was fleeting, but it was authentically peaceful. I understand how a
regular practice of meditation can lead one to a deeper understanding and
connectivity to the Truth.
I stayed after the practice to speak with Bob about meditation and Buddhist
beliefs. I asked him if all things are one and part of a whole, and the Buddha
became enlightened, then why arent we all enlightened? He answered simply, We

are. We just dont know it. The answer may seem contradictory to some, but with
my own spiritual understanding that all things exist at the same timegood/bad,
right/wrong, black/whiteI was satisfied with his answer. I also inquired to him about
the chanting of Chinese sutras. I asked, Since the chanting is in Chinese, and most
of us dont know the meaning behind the chants, what is the benefit? He explained
that it is not so much the meaning that is the purpose of chanting. It is a way to
focus and prepare the mind for meditation. Also, the combined vocal vibration in a
room full of chanters raises the energy level, and is conducive to a deeper
meditational experience.
Through my meditational experience at the Salt Lake Buddhist Temple, and
from my studies of Buddhism for my World Religions class and this paper, I have
learned the history of Buddhism, and why meditation is a key practice of the religion.
Interestingly, I discovered that I am kind of Buddhist without having even known it. I
do not study the Dharma, which are the teachings of the Buddha, or belong to a
Buddhist community, or sangha. I do not claim any religious affiliation. But many of
my experiences in the past, and my personal spiritual beliefs, are coincidentally
aligned quite perfectly with Buddhism. To requote the Buddhists during the
Parliament of World Religions: Buddhism is a religion of wisdom, enlightenment,
and compassion. I concur and I dig it.

Citations
http://buddhism.about.com/od/lifeofthebuddha/a/buddhalife.htm
https://thebuddhistcentre.com/text/what-meditation
Living Religions, 8th edition, author Mary Pat Fish
Great Religions of the World, 1978, National Geographic Society, multiple
authors