Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS & THE EIGHTFOLD PATH
The eightfold path con-
sists of:
The Buddha taught four noble truths:
1
Life is
dukkha
(suffering).
1
Right thought
2
Dukkha
comes from
tanha
(selfish desire).
2
Right understanding
3
When one forsakes selfish desire, suffering will be extin-
guished.
3
Right speech
4
The 'eightfold path' is the way to eliminate selfish desire.
4
Right action
5
Right livelihood
6
Right exertion
7
Right attentiveness
8
Right concentration
Theravada vs Mahayana
Theravada Buddhism (also followed in Cambodia, Laos, Sri Lanka and Thailand) differs
from Hinduism, Judaism, Islam and Christianity in that it is not centred around a god or
gods, but rather a psycho- philosophical system. Today it covers a wide range of inter-
pretations of the basic beliefs, which all start from the enlightenment of Siddhartha
Gautama, a prince-turned-ascetic and referred to as the Buddha, in northern India around
2500 years ago.
In the Theravada school, it's believed that the individual strives to achieve
nibbana
(nirvana), rather than waiting for all humankind being ready for salvation as in the Ma-
hayana (Large Vehicle) school. The Mahayana school does not reject the other school,
but claims it has extended it. The Theravadins see Mahayana as a misinterpretation of the
Buddha's original teachings. Of the two, Theravada Buddhism is more austere and ascet-
ic and, some might say, harder to practise.
In mornings, you'll see rows of monks and sometimes nuns carrying bowls to get offer-
ings of rice and food. It's not begging. It's a way of letting locals have the chance of do-
ing the deed of
dhana
, thus acquiring merit.
