CONTEST: TELL US ABOUT YOUR RELIGION | 🙏 BUDDHISM 🙏

Hello Everyone,

This is the first time I'm participating for the contest organized by @belenguerra, @writingnreviews & @fendit. This is a good point to start for me in this community. I have never written anything related to my religion before (apart from the school exam papers) 😇 However, I like to share the concept behind my religion and why I'm a follower of it with you today.

Introduction

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My religion is Buddhism. Along with me there are 520 million + followers believed in this religion, that's about 7% of global population. According to statistics Buddhism is the world's fourth-largest religion.

Buddhism considered as one of the most ancient religious and philosophical teaching. Prince Siddhartha Gautama founded that the cause of human suffering is itself. He wanted to discover a way to end this endless cycle of suffering. He chose to left all the luxuries he had as a royal prince and lived in the forest where he began his training in meditation. Later he understood that "middle way" is the balance way of life. Once Enlightened Siddhartha become the "Lord Gautama Buddha" (the Awakened One) for many of believers. His teaching method latter become a religious movement.

source _{Under the Bodhi Tree Siddhartha Gautama became the Buddha}

Concept of Buddhism

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The goal of the teaching is to overcome the suffering and the cycle of death and rebirth. The method of doing that is called attainment of Nirvana. There are four noble truths which explain why humans suffer and how to overcome suffering.

• The truth of suffering (dukkha)
• The truth of the cause of suffering (samudaya)
• The truth of the end of suffering (nirhodha)
• The truth of the path that frees us from suffering (magga)

source

In order to become a real Buddhist, a follower must undertake five precepts Buddha has taught.

• to refrain from killing
• to refrain from stealing
• to refrain from lying
• to refrain from improper sexual conduct
• to refrain from consuming intoxicants

These five precepts are the foundation to become a Buddhist. A follower must have a faith when practicing these precepts. Every Buddhists “take refuge” in the Triple Gems. Usually, when we do prayers we always starts with these refuge and then continue with five precepts.

• The Buddha, the fully enlightened one
• The Dharma, the teachings expounded by the Buddha
• The Sangha, the monastic order of Buddhism that practice Dharmas.

Why I'm following Buddhism

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The teaching of Buddhism has given me a freedom to think and question beyond believes. The core principal is to "find out for yourself before accepting". Because in our life we are the one who create all kinds of problems, anxieties, persecutions, and all kinds of suffering for ourselves. Hence solution is to be mindfulness about what we do, what we say and what we think. If we are able to see things without judgment we can see new perspective of life. Buddhism has given me the quality of awareness I want to live and because of that I chose to be a Buddhist.

_{Me & my wife worshiping to Lord Buddha at the Temple}

Conclusion

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There are many religions in the world. Different people have different opinions about these religions. People associate a religion with the hope of finding some relief from their oppressive lives. Everyone is looking for happiness through a religious believes. Respecting each other for their own believes is the most important part for us to develop wisdom and compassion in this world.

Thank you and bless you all 🙏