to reaching the other shore that is Permanent True Reality รป Nirvana. He then began to teach, instruct and guide others who similarly were seeking Wisdom and Enlightenment.
It is the teaching of The Buddha that is the foundation of Buddhism. In fundamental Buddhism, the emphasis is on seeing Truth, on knowing it, and on understanding it. The emphasis is not on blind faith. The teaching of Buddhism is on "come and see" but never on come and believe. Buddhism is rational and requires personal effort, stating that by only one's own efforts can Perfect Wisdom be realized.
Each individual is responsible for his or her own emancipation from anguish and suffering. Buddhism allows each individual to study and observe Truth internally and requires no blind faith before acceptance. Buddhism advocates no dogmas, no creeds, no rites, no ceremonies, no sacrifices, no penances, all of which must usually be accepted on blind faith.
Buddhism is not a system of faith and worship but rather it is merely a Path to Supreme Enlightenment. The Buddha referred to his teaching as simply a raft to leave this shore of suffering and impermanence, and to get to the other shore of bliss and safety, True Permanent Reality, Nirvana. Upon realization of Nirvana, the raft is no longer needed. The Buddha referred to his teaching as the Middle Path, called this because it avoids the extremes of both self-indulgence in the world and the self-mortification of strict asceticism (unknown, 8, 1997).
The path he taught incorporates both intellectual progress plus spiritual progress with practice that reflects compassion, morality, wisdom and concentration while at the same time seeing and understanding the world of existence as it truly is.
My friend is Burmese by heritage; she was born there, but was raised in the United States. Her exposure to Buddhism originates in her mother, who speaks Burmese fluently. I was to learn a few Burmese words on my way t...