I have recently started reading and practising Zen Buddhism, more precisely Samurai Zen.
It's a very interesting subject.
Buddha is a sanskrit word for "one who has awakened"
Buddhism was started in Lumbini, India around 560 B.C. by Prince Siddhartha Gautama. He witnessed death poverty and sorrow for the first time in his late twenties and he set out on a quest to find the answer to human existance.
Gautama became known as Sakyamuni Buddha and based his enlightenment on the "Four Noble Truths"
1. All beings, human or celestial are bound by Karma (the law of cause and effect)
2. The chain of suffering is desire
3. The chain of suffering can be broken by obtaining Nirvana (enlightenment)
4. Nirvana is obtained by practising the "Eightfold Path"
OK, so what is the Eightfold Path you ask? Well it's made up of 8 precepts. 1) right views 2) right intentions 3) right speech 4) right conduct 5) right livelihood 6) right effort 7) right mindfulness 8) right concentration.
Buddhism spread from India to Napal to Tibet and onto China and then Japan in 552 A.D.
Buddhism is quite a strong path to follow, it's not a religion, more a way of life.
There are many exercises to follow including meditation and learning to silence your mind, breath control, techniques of becoming more aware of yourself and your body, your surroundings and the emotions of people you meet. Then there are the Samurai exercises such as the drawing of the sword (Iaido) and body postures and movement.
The ancient Samurai ( Samurai derived from the Japanese verb "Samurau" meaning to serve) believed in battle those who faught with egotism would eventually lose. the need to win is an ego based emotion. The spiritual warrior does not seek to enter a fight and would rather turn away from confrontation. To win without fighting is the key to confrontation. If you are drawn into a battle, walk away.... If you can't then you must fight without fighting, basically defend yourself rather than become aggressive and by doing this your enemy will tire and you will win... This applies to all modern day situations too. Practising Buddhism is to apply these teachings into your everyday life and become a better person and to hopefully gain enlightenment one day...
Hope that helps you a bit..
