What is Buddhism About?What is Buddhism About?

Buddhism: What makes it different?Buddhism: What makes it different?

Buddhism is unlike other world religions as it does not Buddhism is unlike other world religions as it does not have a God. There is no God to pray to for salvation all have a God. There is no God to pray to for salvation all the effort must be your ownthe effort must be your own

Most other religions believe that there is a soul that goes Most other religions believe that there is a soul that goes from one life to the next or ascends to heaven or from one life to the next or ascends to heaven or descends to hell after death. Buddhists do not believe descends to hell after death. Buddhists do not believe that there is a soul.that there is a soul.

Buddhism is a way of life, some people say that it is not Buddhism is a way of life, some people say that it is not really a religion that it is more of a philosophy on how to really a religion that it is more of a philosophy on how to live.live.

What is the philosophy of Buddhism?What is the philosophy of Buddhism?

Buddhism teaches that all beings suffer so the purpose Buddhism teaches that all beings suffer so the purpose of life is to find a way to be happy. It teaches a path to of life is to find a way to be happy. It teaches a path to happiness avoiding the extremes; this means not over happiness avoiding the extremes; this means not over indulging in excess. You’ve probably heard the saying indulging in excess. You’ve probably heard the saying “all things in moderation”. “all things in moderation”.

Buddhists follow a way of life called the ‘middle way’ this Buddhists follow a way of life called the ‘middle way’ this is the path to happiness.is the path to happiness.

Since all beings suffer the aim is not to add to their Since all beings suffer the aim is not to add to their suffering by causing harm in any way; either through suffering by causing harm in any way; either through thought, action or speech.thought, action or speech.

What do Buddhists mean by suffering?What do Buddhists mean by suffering?

Dukkha is the word Buddhists use to describe suffering. If you think Dukkha is the word Buddhists use to describe suffering. If you think about it you may be suffering right now. Doing things you do not about it you may be suffering right now. Doing things you do not enjoy is suffering, not getting what you want, when was the last time enjoy is suffering, not getting what you want, when was the last time this happened to you?this happened to you?

List as many things as you can that could be classed as suffering.List as many things as you can that could be classed as suffering. I can never wait for the holidays, that is a form of suffering. When I can never wait for the holidays, that is a form of suffering. When

they come, I know they won’t last, this is suffering.they come, I know they won’t last, this is suffering. Getting old and not having youth any more is a form of suffering. Getting old and not having youth any more is a form of suffering.

Even happiness causes us to suffer. Can you explain why this is the Even happiness causes us to suffer. Can you explain why this is the case?case?

What is the key to suffering?What is the key to suffering?

What is the one thing that you have no control over?What is the one thing that you have no control over? Look around you, what is happening that you can’t see but you Look around you, what is happening that you can’t see but you

know it is going on? When you next come into this room, will you be know it is going on? When you next come into this room, will you be exactly the same as you are right now?exactly the same as you are right now?

The answer is NO! You nor anyone else will be the same because The answer is NO! You nor anyone else will be the same because everything changes from one moment to the next; cells change and everything changes from one moment to the next; cells change and die, skin cells are lost and replaced constantly, your likes/dislikes die, skin cells are lost and replaced constantly, your likes/dislikes change, your mood changes, the temperature, the weather outside change, your mood changes, the temperature, the weather outside all change from moment to moment and we have no control over all change from moment to moment and we have no control over that.that.

Change is not the root of suffering, the problem is that we invest our Change is not the root of suffering, the problem is that we invest our happiness in things that we think we want, things we think will stay happiness in things that we think we want, things we think will stay the samethe same

Why does change cause suffering?Why does change cause suffering?

From the moment we are born, we start to decay. This From the moment we are born, we start to decay. This might sound strange but the process of change is might sound strange but the process of change is leading us towards death.leading us towards death.

In what ways do people try to delay this process? They In what ways do people try to delay this process? They spend their lives focussed on it. They try to be healthy, spend their lives focussed on it. They try to be healthy, fit, eat well, use anti wrinkle cream on their face, they try fit, eat well, use anti wrinkle cream on their face, they try to fool themselves and others into making themselves to fool themselves and others into making themselves look younger than they are by wearing trendy clothes look younger than they are by wearing trendy clothes etc. They are trying to hold on to their youth but this is etc. They are trying to hold on to their youth but this is not possible, no matter what we do we will all get old and not possible, no matter what we do we will all get old and die. The Buddha taught that there is nothing that comes die. The Buddha taught that there is nothing that comes into existence that does not have within it the capacity to into existence that does not have within it the capacity to change and decay. Nothing!!!!change and decay. Nothing!!!!

Which of the images will not change?Which of the images will not change?

The True Cause of Your SufferingThe True Cause of Your Suffering

Everything changes, we have to accept that, there is nothing we can Everything changes, we have to accept that, there is nothing we can do to stop it from happening. Everything is transient even the do to stop it from happening. Everything is transient even the thoughts in our head change. thoughts in our head change.

What do you want right now? Did you wake up this morning and What do you want right now? Did you wake up this morning and think I am really content with all I have, I don’t need or want think I am really content with all I have, I don’t need or want anything?anything?

We all want; happiness, clothes, shoes, a car, a driving licence, to We all want; happiness, clothes, shoes, a car, a driving licence, to be older, to be younger, a holiday, love, the sun, food, a job, an be older, to be younger, a holiday, love, the sun, food, a job, an education, to be the fastest runner, the best football player, to be education, to be the fastest runner, the best football player, to be famous, rich etc. The list is endless and it goes on throughout life. famous, rich etc. The list is endless and it goes on throughout life.

The Buddha said: If what you have is less that what you want, you The Buddha said: If what you have is less that what you want, you are in a bad place, but if what you have is more than what you want, are in a bad place, but if what you have is more than what you want, you are in a good place’.you are in a good place’.

Most people have less than what they want, they believe they won’t Most people have less than what they want, they believe they won’t be happy until they have all these things. So they crave them, they be happy until they have all these things. So they crave them, they may never achieve them and so they suffer.may never achieve them and so they suffer.

What do you want?What do you want? Think of something you really Think of something you really

wantwant Will you get it?Will you get it? What if you do not get it?What if you do not get it? You have no control over what You have no control over what

will happen in life, you may not will happen in life, you may not be here tomorrowbe here tomorrow

There are no guarantees in lifeThere are no guarantees in life Can you be fully content Can you be fully content

knowing you might never get knowing you might never get it?it?

sometimes we want what he sometimes we want what he can never achieve and this can never achieve and this causes sufferingcauses suffering

I Want to be hereI Want to be here

I want to do this!I want to do this!

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