Buddhist Customs
By http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion
Buddhist tradition has developed many different customs and practices in different parts of the world. However, two customs are basic to all traditions: Venerating the Buddha and The exchange of gifts.
Venerating the Buddha
This may take the form of meditating on the qualities of Buddha, and honouring the Buddha or Buddha-figure.
A person could honour the Buddha by making offerings to relics or images of the Buddha.
The exchange of gifts
In the Theravada tradition, Buddhist laypersons often give gifts to Buddhist monks but giving is also encouraged more generally, to one another and to good causes.
In Theravada Buddhism, monks are considered to embody the fruits of Buddhist practice. Monks' responsibility is to share these with lay Buddhists through their example and teaching.
Giving to monks is also thought to benefit lay people and to win them merit.
Pilgrimage
Four main centres of pilgrimage sprung up within the first couple of hundred years after Buddhaճ death which marked key locations in the Buddhaճ life.
Since then other centres have emerged in virtually every area where Buddhism has been established, each with its own practices and customs.
The purpose of pilgrimage is to foster a spiritual discipline, to fulfil a vow or simply to travel. It is an important Buddhist practice.
Pilgrimage also helps to express feelings of devotion and creates a relationship with the historical figures associated with the pilgrimage site.
Ordination
Admission to the monastic sangha involves two rites of passage:
Renunciation of the secular life
Acceptance of monasticism as a novice
Since in many cases, acceptance as a monk could not be made before the age of 20, the two rites could be separated by many years.
Ordination is an important ceremony in all traditions. In the Theravada, for example, ordination means becoming a monk. To become a Theravadin monk a postulant shaves his head and beard and adopts the yellow robes of the monk.
Various vows are exchanged, including the repetition of the Ten Precepts.
Then the postulant is questioned about past behaviour and their suitability for the position. If satisfied, the officiating abbot admits the postulant.
Buddhist Beliefs: Beliefs in Buddhism
Summary of the Teachings of Buddha
Karma: Actions have consequences; so our lives are conditioned by our past actions
Rebirth: Consciousness continues after death, and finds expression in a future life
Liberation from karma: By following the Buddha's path one escapes the cycle of craving and suffering
The Four Noble Truths: The essentials of Buddhism
Enlightenment:The highest goal of life is to reach Enlightenment; a state of being that goes beyond suffering
Dharma: The teachings and hence the way to nirvana
The Core of Buddhist teaching
At the heart of the Buddha's teaching lie The Four Noble Truths and The Eightfold Path which lead the Buddhist towards the path of Enlightenment.
Facing the Truth
The Buddha taught that the human tendency is to avoid the difficult truths of life and this in turn leads to suffering.
By enabling the mind to be at peace through meditation a human being can confront reality and overcome hatred and craving.
