2025.04.04

Change and Peace ~ Buddha's Philosophy

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The founder of Buddhism, Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama), as the name suggests, is a great man who laid the foundations of a global spiritual culture. Born as a member of the royal family in Lumbini in ancient India around the 5th and 6th centuries BC, Buddha lived a comfortable life from childhood.

However, as they grow older, they witness the reality of human inevitable suffering: old age, sickness, and death, and they begin to question deeply. This contemplation later led him to ordain and became the driving force that changed the spiritual history of mankind.

Article Contents

Founder of Buddhism, Siddhartha: His Life, Doctrines, and Influence on Modern Times
- Birth and Childhood, Privileged Environment, and Emotional Conflicts

Founder of Buddhism, Siddhartha: His Life, Doctrines, and Influence on Modern Times

The Buddha's life was a journey of deep exploration of the universal human theme of suffering and its meaning. Following in his footsteps will give us a hint to look inward and live a richer life.

Birth and Childhood, Privileged Environment, and Emotional Conflicts

The birth of the Buddha was a moment of great joy and anticipation for King Shuddhodana, the king of the Shaka tribe, and his wife, Lady Maya. However, Mrs. Maya died only seven days after the Buddha's birth, after which the Buddha would be raised by his aunt, Maha Prajapati. From the beginning of his life, experiencing the loss of a loved one may have had a profound impact on the Buddha's outlook on life.

From an early age, his intelligence was remarkable, and he was educated and trained as a royal, including martial arts and academics, in an environment blessed both physically and mentally. However, on the other hand, there was always a deep sense of emptiness in Buddha's heart, which could not be satisfied only by his role as a member of the royal family or material wealth. He could not find the essential happiness of man in the glamorous life around him and in the struggle for power.

Abandon the decision to leave home and live a peaceful life

One day at the age of 29, the Buddha decided to abandon all the ideal living conditions prepared by his father, the king, and become an ordained priest. Behind this determination was a deep question about the "four sufferings" that cannot be avoided in life: life, old age, sickness, and death. He threw away his peaceful life in search of answers to why man has to suffer and how he can be free from that suffering.

After his ordination, Buddha visited many religious figures and philosophers and tried various practices and meditation techniques, but he could not arrive at the fundamental answer he was looking for. He also tried ascetic penance, which was the norm in India at the time, but realized that it too did not bring true peace of mind.

Enlightenment and Birth as Buddha

The Buddha realizes that years of penance are not always the path that leads to the truth, and he enters into his own meditation. Then, at the age of 35, under the Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya, he entered deep meditation and finally attained enlightenment. At this moment, the Buddha became a being called "Buddha" (the awakened one) and fully understood the root of human suffering and its solution.

The enlightened Buddha continued to preach the teachings for more than 40 years. His teachings, called the Dharma, have freed many people from suffering and led them to peace of mind. The Buddha's disciples summarized his teachings and formed the religious system of Buddhism, which would later spread throughout the world.

Buddha's Doctrine: The Path to Liberation from Suffering

At the heart of the Buddha's teachings is to understand human suffering and its causes, and to show the way to overcome it. His teachings are not just religious rituals and precepts, but a practical philosophical system for understanding and overcoming the fundamental human suffering.

The Four Noble Truths: The Structure of Suffering

One of the foundational teachings of Buddhism is the Four Noble Truths. This refers to the four truths of suffering (suffering), the cause of suffering (集諦), the elimination of suffering (滅諦), and the way to eliminate suffering (道諦).

The truth that there is suffering in life. In addition to the inevitable suffering of life, old age, illness, and death, there are various forms of suffering, such as separation from loved ones and unfulfilled desires.

The truth that the cause of suffering is attachment and desire. We suffer because we cling to various things and pursue our desires.

The truth that suffering is eliminated by turning away from attachments and desires. As long as suffering exists, there must be a way to destroy it.

The way to destroy suffering. The Buddha showed a specific practice called the Noble Eightfold Path.

The Noble Eightfold Path: The Practice of Destroying Suffering

The Noble Eightfold Path refers to the eight practices of correct understanding (正見), correct thinking (正思惟), correct wording (正語), right action (正業), right life (right life), right effort (正精進), correct attention (正念), and correct meditation (正定). These are concrete ways in which we can free ourselves from suffering and achieve true happiness.

To correctly understand the truth of the Four Noble Truths.

To have the right thoughts and to abandon attachments and desires.

Do not use words that hurt people, such as false words or bad words.

Do not do bad deeds, such as killing or stealing.

Do not engage in unjust occupations that lie or deceive people.

Correct dedication: Do not neglect good deeds and strive not to do bad deeds.

Focus on the present moment and don't get caught up in the past or the future.

Meditation calms the mind and improves concentration.

Freedom from impermanence, selflessness, and attachment

At the heart of the Buddha's teachings are two important ideas: "impermanence" and "no-self." "Impermanence" is the truth that everything in this world is constantly changing, and nothing is permanent. On the other hand, "no-self" is the idea that the concept of a "fixed self" that humans think of is an illusion and that the true self is fluid.

These teachings show that we invite suffering by becoming attached to some particular object or by overestimating ourselves. Understanding impermanence reduces the fear of losing, and understanding selflessness makes it possible to free oneself from self-centered thinking.

Influence on the Modern Age and Universal Wisdom

Because of its practical and universal value, the Buddha's teachings are surprisingly useful even in modern society, more than 2,500 years later. In today's society where stress and anxiety are rampant, the understanding of "impermanence" and "no-self" brings peace and peace of mind to many people.

Meditation and Mindfulness in Search of Peace of Mind

In particular, the meditation method taught by the Buddha has spread to modern times as "mindfulness" and is used as a conscious habit in daily life. Mindfulness refers to a state of mind in which we focus on the present moment and observe thoughts and emotions without judgment.

"Vipassana meditation" is practiced by many people as a technique to observe the sensations that occur in the present moment as they are. This meditation technique also contributes to stress management, emotional control, and deeper self-understanding, and is also highly regarded for improving mental health.

Psychology, Buddhism, and the Exploration of the Mind

In recent years, the similarities between Buddhism and psychology have attracted attention. In particular, the "sense of community" and "overcoming inferiority complexes" emphasized by Adlerian psychology are closely related to the Buddha's teachings of compassion and no-self. In addition, through the fusion with brain science, the Buddha's teachings have been reinterpreted in a modern context, and are attracting attention as a science-based stress relief method and an approach to the pursuit of happiness.

Influence on culture and penetration into modern society

The Buddha's teachings have served as cultural and spiritual pillars throughout the world for more than 2,000 years. It is not just a religious story, but a universal guide in the spiritual evolution of humanity as a whole. In addition, in manga, movies, and literary works, Buddha's ideas are repeatedly referenced and continue to influence modern culture.

For example, Osamu Tezuka's manga Buddha cleverly depicts the life of the Buddha and helps to spread his teachings in a friendly way. In addition, in various films and novels, the teachings of the Buddha are taken up as an important theme, and people are deeply moved and inspired.

Buddha's legacy to humanity

The teachings left behind by the Buddha have been a source of emotional support for people all over the world for more than 2,500 years. His teachings are not limited to any particular religion or culture, but have universal value for humanity as a whole. Buddha is a philosopher, a psychologist, and a being who has deeply explored the essence of human beings.

The Buddha's teachings, especially the ideas of "impermanence" and "no-self," give us important hints to reduce our suffering and anxiety and live a more fulfilling life in modern society. When we incorporate the wisdom of the Buddha into our daily lives, we can pave the way for deeper self-understanding and peace of mind.

Conclusion: Applying the Buddha's Wisdom to the Modern Age

The teachings of the Buddha have a universality that transcends time and borders, and show people how to live to overcome suffering. Buddha was not just a religious person, but a great leader who showed a deep understanding of the root causes of human suffering and practical ways to overcome it. His teachings will bring us peace of mind and deep insight, and will be a compass for living a more fulfilling life.

We will be able to build a happier and more peaceful world by practicing the Buddha's teachings in our daily lives and regaining the tranquility of our minds through meditation. The teachings of the Buddha should be an important guidepost for each of us to look at ourselves and grow in modern society.

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