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History of Buddhism
The History of Buddhism spans from the 6th century BCE to the present, starting with the birth of the Buddha Siddhartha Gautama. This makes it one of the oldest religions practiced today. Throughout this period, the religion evolved as it encountered various countries and cultures, adding to its original Indian foundation Central Asian, East Asian, and Southeast Asian, and to a lesser extent Hellenistic cultural elements. In the process, its geographical extent became considerable so as to affect at one time or another most of the Asian continent. The history of Buddhism is also characterized by the development of numerous movements and schisms, foremost among them the Theravada, Mahāyāna and Vajrayana traditions, punctuated by contrasting periods of expansion and retreat

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

The following are the five precepts rendered in English and then Pali

The Buddha is said to have taught the five precepts out of compassion, and for the betterment of society. Thus they are to be undertaken voluntarily rather than as commandments from a god. The precepts are intended to help a Buddhist live free from remorse, so that they can progress more easily on the Path.
The precepts are considered differently in a Mahayana context to that of the Theravada school of thought. To Theravada they are as they appear, but Mahayana schools consider this a beginers view. The reason for this is because Theravada rejects any realisation of non-duality in favour of the Pali Canon alone. In the written form, the precepts appear to be similar to the Christian commandments. However to the Mahayana schools, the first precept for example does not mean thou shall not kill. Rather, the precept of not killing highlights with deeper understanding that one cannnot see things in these terms. That is to say one cannot find anything fixed to call a victim, nor a specific entity that one can call a killer. In fact, one can find nothing fixed at all. It is this flux that the precepts point to. By engaging these precepts, one is engaging in the effort to be awake in the non conceptual, non dualistic reality.

The following are the five precepts rendered in English and then Pali:
1. I undertake the precept to refrain from taking the life (killing) of living beings.Pānātipātā veramani sikkhāpadam samādiyāmi
2. I undertake the precept to refrain from stealing. (lit. "taking what is not offered")Adinnādānā veramani sikkhāpadam samādiyāmi
3. I undertake the precept to refrain from sexual misconduct (adultery, rape, exploitation, etc).Kāmesu micchācāra veramani sikkhāpadam samādiyāmi
4. I undertake the precept to refrain from false speech (lying).Musāvāda veramani sikkhāpadam samādiyāmi
5. I undertake the precept to refrain from intoxicants which lead to heedlessness. (Can include intoxicating ideas)Surā meraya majja pamādatthānā veramani sikkhāpadam samādiyāmi
By Nicky At 05:46
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