"Empty vessels make the most noise" is the popular saying which means that a person without information or knowledge is just the person of words not substance. Knowledge is extremely important when it comes to proving your point anywhere or leading a decent successful life. A peaceful life is the wishful desire of many and is attained only when the person is brimming with complete knowledge.
Teaching is the procedure through which knowledge about desirable subjects is given to others by means of various activities and sets of events. When it is about spiritual or teachings for life then the value increases a lot.
Teachings of Gautama Buddha are very popular and inspiring for everyone irrespective of caste, creed, age, gender or religion. Buddha's teachings have impacted thousands of lives and bestowed spiritual wisdom to many. Many have been able to liberate themselves from the routine conflicts of life and rise above all.
These teachings have the ability to influence people and transform their lives. Following these teachings people move away and above all weaknesses of humans like anger, greed, unsatisfaction and other desires.
The word 'Buddha' means the 'enlightened one'. His real name was Siddhartha Gautama who was awakened in his young age and attained enlightenment at the age of 29.
He witnessed miseries for the first time in the form of the sufferings of people. He then left his palace and started looking for solutions to get rid of these sufferings.
While sitting under a Peepal Tree, also known as 'Bodhi' tree in Bodh Gaya, he observes meditation as the only solution for all sufferings.
His meditation continued for 49 days and after that he attained enlightenment. His awakening was based on teachings which he transferred to others through his preaching.
Sutta Pitaka also known as Buddhavachana contains the collection of words of Buddha teachings. These teachings are in the form of stories.
The main teachings of Buddha consists of four noble truth, the eightfold path in Buddhism and the three ratnas.
Four Noble Truth
Problem of Sufferings: Buddha's teachings preach that the sufferings are a part of every human beings' life. Sufferings find their way to reach humans in many forms like helplessness during birth, sickness, old age and finally the destination of death. This gives rise to sorrow and grief which continues to bother humans throughout their life.
Causes of Suffering: Buddha's teachings also throw light on the root cause of all sufferings. According to Buddha, humans are always looking for personal pleasures in some or the other way. They are ignorant to the fact of Karma due to which they don't even hesitate to harm others in order to fulfil their selfish desires which ultimately leads to dissatisfaction.
End of Sufferings: According to the teachings the sorrow of humans can be removed from their lives. Buddha, through his teachings, believes that the end of desires and greed can remove sorrows from life. This will eventually bring all the sufferings to an end.
The Solution to end the Sufferings: Buddha's teachings also show the path through which these sufferings can be put to an end. There is an eightfold path or Ashtangirka Marga, by following this path, humans can end their sufferings. The state reached after following this path is known as ‘Nirvana’ in Buddhism.
The Eightfold Path
The eightfold path consists of eight practices which lead humans to the state of ‘Nirvana’ and liberates them from the pain of rebirth. These practices are:
Right view: This practice tells that the right view for life and after life is very important. One should be open for changes and should look for life through wisdom and compassion.
Right resolve: Second practice preaches that the right thought for life is very important as this will lead to renunciation from worldly pleasures. Before leading a life of an ascetic it is very important why a person is choosing to do so. So, the correct thought, aspiration and motivation is required.
Right speech: Words speak for you. So, the next practice focuses on the words you choose to speak.
Right conduct: The way humans behave in public is also very important to end all sufferings.
Right livelihood: This emphasizes that the source of earning should be ethically correct and not harmful to others.
Right effort: Right efforts put in the right direction is also important for a decent life. We should try to make the lives of people around us better rather than degrading or hurting them.
Right mindfulness: This practice directs humans to be watchful over their thoughts and actions they take.
Right concentration: Focus is extremely important to arise to a certain level of success or a peaceful mind.
The Three Ratnas
In Buddhism there are Three Ratnas of Buddhism which comprise of Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha. Followers of Buddhism who tend to take refuge go through these three practices.
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