Buddhism 101

I've been reading a very interesting book: 'The Naked Buddha' by the Venerable Adrienne Howley, an Australian Buddhist nun. In it she tries to make the basic teachings of Buddhism plain and simple, removing from them the cultural accretions that have gathered around them over the years. I am inspired by this book. I am also reminded of how little headway I have made on my own Buddhist journey.

I'd like to summarize some of the things she says together with my own contemplations. Hopefully this will help some people to understand what Buddhism is to me. I believe it will also help me to clarify my own thinking on these subjects.

To begin with let's be clear on the Buddhist approach to dogma. Nothing should be believed on the basis of the authority of the teacher or scripture. The Buddha plainly asks us to try these things and keep those that work.

Buddhism rests on 3 ideas. You and I will certainly grapple with each of them.

1. Suffering. Everybody suffers. All living things suffer. Not just pain, but dissatisfaction, illness, death. Suffering is the basic problem of existence. Is it possible to reduce suffering? Buddhism tries to answer that question.

2. Impermanence. Things arise and fade away. Everything is in a state of flux, including you and I. It seems as if nothing lasts forever. Whatever it is, this too shall pass.

3. No-self. This is a tough one. Is there really a 'you' there? Is there an essential unchanging essence of 'you'? If you examine this one ruthlessly, you will see that the phenomena you call yourself is really the result of a constellation of physical, emotional and psychological factors, always changing and dependent on outside forces. We hate to give up the idea of a permanent self. No matter, you can just think about that one. Let it sit. Dwell on it from time to time. But above all be honest with yourself and follow your conclusions wherever they take with courage.