Learning about Buddhism
Part of this wonderful 30 Days of Witchcraft challenge is researching a path I don't know about but am interested in.
I'm honestly not religiously interested in a specific path, but I have always loved Buddhism. I enjoyed learning about it in school, so I'm going to share some findings!
Let's learn together!
Buddhism actually isn't a religion; it's more of a philosophy. There is no worship of a Buddha, despite what some people like to assume.
The idea is to reach a state of enlightenment, free from suffering, pain, and material needs, which stops the process of reincarnation. It's a belief that you go through the cycle of reincarnation, living life after life and suffering, until you become enlightened.
At the heart of the practice is meditation. Mediating allows you to see past disillusionment and illusions within your mind. You then create harmonious mental states for yourself.
History
My first encounters with Buddhism always came across in school when we went over the history of India. There'd be a movie documentary about Siddhartha Gautama, a prince who lived a couple of thousand years ago and founded the practice.
When he was first born, his father told him that he would either grow to become a powerful king or an excellent spiritual teacher. So, to keep his son where he wanted, the king sheltered him from the outside world. He was shown no sorrow, suffering, or death.
Siddhartha was married at sixteen, had a child, and lived a ravishing life. However, one day he ventured outside the palace walls and saw the world's suffering around him.
During his venture in the outside world, Siddhartha saw the Four Sights:
An old man who was weak due to old age
A sick man who was helpless due to illness
A dead man being carried to be buried by his family, who are in mourning
A monk who renounced all worldly possessions and worries, who sits in happiness and harmony
After seeing these sights and sensing that there must be an answer to suffering, Siddhartha left his wife and child and went on a spiritual journey.
For the next six years, the prince underwent many brutal practices, studied many methods of meditation and self-harm, and other extremist practices. After some time, he realized the path to happiness, no suffering, and spiritual enlightenment was a path of balance.
It's recorded that he sat underneath a Bodhi tree, meditated through the night to cleanse his mind, and obtained enlightenment.
Practice
The key to the Buddhist teachings is to reach enlightenment, not to idolize Siddhartha and his accomplishments. He was a teacher, not a god-figure.
The Four Noble Truths are the basic teachings that must be understood and meditated on before reaching enlightenment.
Suffering exists
Suffering arises from attachment to desires
Suffering ceases when attachment to desire ceases
Freedom from suffering is possible by practicing the Eightfold Path
A practitioner must also follow the Noble Eightfold Path throughout their human life, which involves meditation, wisdom, and moral standards.
When practiced regularly, some things can hinder enlightenment, such as lust or doubt.
Personal Take
I've always enjoyed learning and studying Buddhism because it fits more of my type of practice.
After living with a set of guidelines in a religious practice for many years, I haven't found anything I can completely agree with.
Buddhism can be incorporated into witchcraft, as one is a practice and the other is a philosophy. I think that's the appeal for me because, like witchcraft, it's about finding the power and balance within yourself to relieve yourself from the stresses of this world and find harmony.
I also like the idea of reincarnation; I don't think a spirit sits in the ground while your body "sleeps", waiting for someone to wake it back up.
I like that a spirit can be cyclical.
I enjoy the thought of meeting kindred spirits and souls along my spirit's journey to enlightenment.
I also like that if you don't succeed at achieving spiritual nirvana, you always have another chance in the next life.
If you want to read more about Buddhism, there are links here that give sources to books, interviews, and studies about its teachings.