What the Buddha Taught and Is It Still Relevant Today?

2710 Words6 Pages

Although the history of Buddhism is difficult to be certain of, many historians believe that Buddhism was around 2,500 years ago in India when Siddhatta Gautama discovered the way to live without suffering. Siddhatta Gautama founded Sangha, the sect of wonderer ascetics.1

Siddhattha Gautama or more commonly known as Buddha was born as a prince that had every luxury in his command but decided go on a search to look for the solutions of suffering when he was faced with reality.

After attaining his enlightenment under the Bodhi tree, he delivered his very first sermon to a group of five ascetics and from that day onwards, he taught and preached his teachings to all mankind without taking into account their backgrounds.

The population of the disciples of the religion is reaching over 500 million with a majority of it to be found in countries such as Ceylon, China, Tibet, Korean, India, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and scattered everywhere around the world.2

Historians believe that the Buddha passed away at Kusinara at the age of 80 but his teachings lived on forever.

Since it is such an ancient religion, one might wonder if it holds its relevance to the world today.

During his enlightenment, the Buddha discovered the three universal truths. All of Buddha’s teachings are based on these three truths. One of the three universal truths is anicca, which means that nothing is permanent. This idea is relatable to today’s world because it is the truth. Nothing in this world will last forever. People will grow old, plants will wilt and die and non-living things will decay and rust.

The second universal truth is dukkha, which means suffering. Buddha said that life is dukkha beca...

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10. Snyder, David N. “The Complete Book of Buddha’s Lists—Explained” Nevada: Vipassana Foundation, 2009, pp 201-204.

11. Gyatso, Tenzin. “How to Practice: The Way to a Meaningful Life” New York: Atria. 2002, pp 71.

12. Dechen, Khandro. “The Ten Paramitas” Aeroncyclopaedia. Accessed on April 20, 2014. http://www.aroencyclopaedia.org/shared/text/p/paramitas_ar_01_eng.php

13. “Statistics about Buddhism.” Adherents. Accessed April 20, 2014. http://www.adherents.com/Na/Na_86.html#617

14. Stein, Joel "Just Say O," TIME 162, no. 5 (August 4, 2003): 48-56

15. “What is Buddhism?” Dhammaloka. Acessed April 20, 2014. http://www.dhammaloka.org.au/articles/item/577-what-is-buddhism?.html

16. “The Direction of Buddhism in America today” UrbanDharma. Accessed on April 20, 2014. http://www.urbandharma.org/udharma5/tension2.html

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