(Noun) A follower of the Buddha, a spiritual teacher born in India c 563 BCE, or (adjective) relating to Him or His teachings. A Buddhist is defined not by belief but by their commitment to and faith (confidence) in a path of spiritual development and liberation that includes
(1)The practice of meditation in order to achieve mental and emotional integration and insight;
(2) The observance of ethical guidelines to train oneself in simplicity, mindfulness and nonviolence; and cultivate an attitude of universal, unconditional loving kindness; and
(3) The development of wisdom based on testing for oneself the teachings of the Buddha. These include the teaching that everything (including ourselves) arises in dependence on other conditions and, in consequence, is changing and open to the rest of existence, rather than ultimately separately existing.
The path leads to a state of Enlightenment or Nirvana, a state of complete freedom from all limitation and suffering.
"Just as the great ocean has but one taste, the taste of salt, so my teachings have but one taste, the taste of freedom." ( - the Buddha)
(1)The practice of meditation in order to achieve mental and emotional integration and insight;
(2) The observance of ethical guidelines to train oneself in simplicity, mindfulness and nonviolence; and cultivate an attitude of universal, unconditional loving kindness; and
(3) The development of wisdom based on testing for oneself the teachings of the Buddha. These include the teaching that everything (including ourselves) arises in dependence on other conditions and, in consequence, is changing and open to the rest of existence, rather than ultimately separately existing.
The path leads to a state of Enlightenment or Nirvana, a state of complete freedom from all limitation and suffering.
"Just as the great ocean has but one taste, the taste of salt, so my teachings have but one taste, the taste of freedom." ( - the Buddha)
His Holiness the Dalai Lama often says, "I am just a simple Buddhist monk - no more, nor less."
In all of Buddhist history, there has never been a holy war.
In all of Buddhist history, there has never been a holy war.
by Assured April 10, 2006
Get the Buddhist mug.Not all forms of Buddhism denny the existence of Gods, heavens, hells, re-incarnation, or other supernatural experiences. Atheist Buddhism emphasizes the parts of Siddhartha Gautama's teaching that emphasized focusing on compassion and effectiveness in this world for this world. Further, for the Atheist Buddhist, unlike many Atheist Westerners, the highest quality of life, or enlightenment, comes not from glorifying the self but by doing things that allow us to transcend ourselves to where we realize the self is an illusion and the barrier between "I" and "reality" disappears. When you are truly in the moment, in that "just do it" mindset, we do not know or care about the past or future, but just "are we doing the compassionate and effective thing right now?"
Not every Buddhist practices an atheist buddhism. Some believe in re-incarnation and some believe in a heaven/hell structure.
by ErnDog December 26, 2006
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An individual who believes and follows the teachings of Siddhartha Guatama, a former prince who, they say, stepped out of his castle and had an epiphany,and saw the hate in the world, and set out to rid the world of evil needs. The basis of Budhism is to rid yourself of wants, and only focus on the essentials of life, meditation. When you had finally achieved these things, you would reach Nirvana, or true happiness. Budhists are often kind and loving souls, who believe there is potential in everything. Budhists tend to also follow the teachings of Confucius.
by lone-wolf January 3, 2006
Get the Buddhist mug.A follower of the philosophy (though it has elements of a religion in some of the practices) of the Indian Prince who is now known (more commmonly) as Buddha.
Lots of people think that Buddhism is a religion, but in fact some Christians, Catholics, Muslims, and Jews (just to name a few religions) follow the Buddhist philosophy.
I say this because everyone seems to think that Buddhism is purely a religion. It's more like a way of life, but you can find some mysticism in it.
Lots of people think that Buddhism is a religion, but in fact some Christians, Catholics, Muslims, and Jews (just to name a few religions) follow the Buddhist philosophy.
I say this because everyone seems to think that Buddhism is purely a religion. It's more like a way of life, but you can find some mysticism in it.
I am a Buddhist, but I also believe in Christ.
I became a Buddhist recently, the path to enlightenment is a while off.
I became a Buddhist recently, the path to enlightenment is a while off.
by Ian the Buddhist January 3, 2007
Get the buddhist mug.An offshoot of Brahminism/Vedism taught by the Indian Prince Gautama Siddhartha, which declared that there was no permanent self (Atman) and that liberation from suffering was to be found not by worshipping gods but by escaping from the cycle of birth and death. According to Gautama Buddha, suffering and rebirth are caused by attachment to things which are devoid of independent existence and thus impermanent.
While generally classified as a religion, Buddhism is probably more accurately described as a spiritual path. However, many Buddhist sects contain strong religious elements.
Buddha himself told his disciples that understanding in Buddhism should be established through personal insight rather than faith or revelation.
Some modern Buddhists, especially in the West, do not accept the ideas of karma and rebirth (after death) at face value.
While generally classified as a religion, Buddhism is probably more accurately described as a spiritual path. However, many Buddhist sects contain strong religious elements.
Buddha himself told his disciples that understanding in Buddhism should be established through personal insight rather than faith or revelation.
Some modern Buddhists, especially in the West, do not accept the ideas of karma and rebirth (after death) at face value.
Sokka Gakkai believers who chant for personal gain and belief-free Western Zen practitioners are Buddhists.
by Buddhabing September 3, 2005
Get the Buddhism mug.A Jewish person who finds fulfillment in Buddhist philosophy and practices, but has not given up their Jewish identity. Mostly found in those of the "baby boomer" generation who were unsatisfied with a stauch, unfeeling Judaism of the 1950's and 1960's. For an excellent illustration of this group of Jews who make up rougly 30% of practicing Buddhists in America see "Jew in the Lotus," by Rodger Kamenetz.
by Lauren Trexler-Berg September 28, 2004
Get the jewish-buddhists (jubus) mug.Today, a young philosophy major on Magic Mushrooms, realized that all matter in the Universe is merely energy condensed to a slow vibration; that our souls are actually the electronic energy connections within our minds. That we are all one universal consciousness born into separate realities, experiencing itself subjectively. There is NO such thing as space and time or death; life is only an existential dream, and everything that ever thrived in the universe (humans, animals, plants, stars) is the imagination of ourselves.
Pretty much true.
Pretty much true.
Today, a young philosophy major on Magic Mushrooms, realized that all matter in the Universe is merely energy condensed to a slow vibration; that our souls are actually the electronic energy connections within our minds. That we are all one universal consciousness born into separate realities, experiencing itself subjectively. There is NO such thing as space and time or death; life is only an existential dream, and everything that ever thrived in the universe (humans, animals, plants, stars) is the imagination of ourselves.
Pantheistic Solipsistic Buddhism
Pantheistic Solipsistic Buddhism
by Kongamuse August 27, 2013
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