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buddha his life teaching Buddhism was founded by Siddhartha Gautama, who would become the Buddha. It is believed that he was born between the sixth and fourth centuries BCE in Lumbini, a town in Southern Nepal near the border of India. It is also known that he was born a Hindu, and Hinduism greatly influenced his teachings and the Buddhist doctrine. Siddhartha Gautama was raised a prince, and had a luxurious lifestyle. However, upon venturing outside the palace, he encountered four sights that changed the way he saw the world: the first three were old age, sickness, and death. The fourth was a monk in meditation, who inspired Gautama to renounce the material world. At the age of 29, he left his family to pursue his search for the deeper meaning of life and traveled throughout northeast India. He then spent time learning from the best philosophers and the wisest gurus of that era, but found that it was not enough. He went through self-mortification, which led him to extreme asceticism. After six years of wandering and learning, Gautama decided that asceticism was not the way to achieve his goals. He sat under a sacred fig tree to meditate. It was in his meditation that he attained enlightenment. It is believed that he had experienced clarity of mind and was able to examine the meanings of the mind, the universe, and life itself. He became free of desire, illusion, ill will, and inner suffering, thereby attaining peace. Hence, he was called Shakyamuni (capability and kindness)Buddha, and the tree was known as the Bodhi Tree. basically doctrines in buddhism The central doctrines of Buddhism are founded on the objective of pursuing moral deeds and reaching enlightenment or nirvana in order to put an end to suffering, also known as samsara. Four Noble Truths The Four Noble Truths are part of the core or spirit of Buddhist doctrine. They focus on suffering as an inevitable part of life. They also identify the reason behind suffering and the possible solution to it. The Four Noble Truths in Buddhism are 1. the truth of Dukkha (anxiety, dissatisfaction, and suffering); 2. the truth of Samudaya (the source of suffering); 3. the truth of Nirodha (the end of suffering); and 4. the truth of Magga (the path leading to the end of suffering). The First Truth recognizes the existence of suffering. The Second Truth, meanwhile, points to the cause of suffering. Buddhists believe that one of the primary origins of suffering is desire. This desire is related to ignorance, which is the opposite of wisdom. Desire, according to Buddhism, is manifested in the craving for pleasure, material wealth, and eternal life. Since these are things that can never be fully attained, yearning for them naturally causes dissatisfaction and suffering. Meanwhile, ignorance relates to the inability to perceive the world in its true state. Because of this ignorance, an individual believes the world must work according to his or her expectations; when this does not happen, an individual may experience frustration and even be driven to commit vices such as anger, envy, and greed. The Third Truth states that there is an end to suffering, either in one's earthly or spiritual life. The spiritual freedom from suffering can be achieved through the attainment of nirvana, or the state of eternal peace and happiness. The Fourth Truth outlines how one can attain nirvana and reach the end of suffering, which is referred to as the Noble Eightfold Path. The Noble Eightfold Path The Noble Eightfold Path, also known as the Middle Way, is regarded in Buddhism as the way to reach enlightenment and freedom from suffering. It gives a concrete guide for ethical and mental development, intending to free the person from delusion and attachment. It also leads to an understanding of reality and all phenomena in the universe. The aspects of the Noble Eightfold Path involve the application of virtues and the performance of actions that are in accordance with the teachings of Buddha. They are as follows: Right understanding - perceiving life and the world in their true state, and the correct knowledge of the Four Truths of Buddhism Right thought - preventing oneself from thinking of immoral and harmful ideas and instead filling one's mind with thoughts of compassion and the abandonment of material possessions Right concentration - being able to steer oneself away from distractions and seeing clearly with one's mind Right mindfulness - being aware of the different aspects of one's existence, including the physical body, thoughts, and emotions Right speech - practicing honesty and kindness in one's words, and abstaining from gossip and meaningless talk Right action - refraining from killing, stealing, and sexual misconduct, and instead practicing compassion, contentment, and chastity Right livelihood - renouncing ways of earning income which can put the lives of others in danger, including the slaughter of animals, the use of firearms, and the slave trade Right effort - preventing the possible emergence of immoral thoughts, abandoning immoral thoughts which have already surfaced, creating positive thoughts, and making sure that these positive thoughts are sustained and shared with other people * * It is expected that through the practice of the principles of the Noble Eightfold Path, a person can reach a higher level of being and the realization of nirvana. These principles of the Eightfold Path are mutually dependent concepts, and are regarded as actions which cannot be separated from one another. Non-Theism Buddhism is often considered non theistic. Its followers do not believe in a god or a set of deities acting as the forces behind the creation of all entities and phenomena in the universe. The Buddha and other enlightened entities in Buddhism are not considered gods, but are instead regarded as teachers serving as a Buddhist practitioner's guide towards reaching enlightenment. The Nature of the Buddha Mahayana Buddhists believe that the Buddha exists in three forms or bodies, also referred to as the trikaya: the Body of Transformation, the Body of Bliss, and the Body of Essence. The Body of Transformation is the identity of the Buddha as Siddhartha Gautama. This body is believed to be merely a manifestation of the Body of Bliss. The Body of Bliss is said to be the form of the Buddha who imparted the teachings of the Buddhist faith. It is, in turn, the personified form of the Body of Essence, which is regarded as the true Buddha and its ultimate, eternal form. Major Issues faced by Mahayana Buddhists The Chinese Invasion of Tibet Mahayana Buddhists have also encountered issues that posed challenges to their religious community. One of the major challenges that Mahayana Buddhists have faced-particularly, the Tibetan Buddhism sect-is the Chinese invasion of Tibet. Because of this, not only did Tibet become a part of Chinese territory; Tibetan Buddhists have also continuously faced threats to their religious freedom since 1950. The Chinese invasion of Tibet took place when Britain and China signed an agreement in 1906, giving the Chinese government authority over Tibet. Tibet was then under the spiritual and political leadership of the Dalai Lama and enjoyed independence from China. However, the Chinese communist government invaded and annexed Tibet in 1950. The Dalai Lama and many of his followers were then forced into exile. At present, Tibet is still under the control of the Chinese government. China has not only exerted firm political control over the region, but has also exercised great influence in spiritual affairs. The government has placed restrictions on the activities of Tibetan monks. In particular, it has been vigilant towards gatherings and demonstrations of Tibetans calling for the independence of Tibet. The Chinese government was also accused of several human rights violations, particularly the arrest and torture of Tibetans who have led protests against China. China was also accused of attempting to unduly influence the selection of Tibetan religious leaders.