Unlike other world religions, where personality as such is not important – only abstract worship of God is considered (independent thinking is not encouraged, everything is taken on faith, there is no proof), Buddhism is based on the personal aspect. This means that if the individual himself does not want to change, no one will do it for him.
There are four main ideas:
- The middle way;
- the four noble truths;
- the Eightfold Path;
- the five commandments.
The middle way is a concept that means cutting off extremes. You don’t have to go into total asceticism or plunge into the abyss of pleasure.
4 truths is nothing more than a statement of the following facts:
- the earthly world is full of suffering;
- the causes of suffering are the passionate desire for pleasure;
- The way to get rid of suffering is to limit oneself to pleasure;
- the attainment of nirvana.
The Eightfold Path is an opportunity to pass through seven interconnected stages of personal perfection, where the reward is nirvana (the eighth stage). Everything here is subject to logic. It is impossible to pass through the steps step by step – everything works in a complex, the center of which is the human mind.
The precepts are:
- Thou shalt not kill;
- do not lie;
- do not steal;
- do not commit adultery;
- Do not use “hellish potion” (drugs, alcohol, tobacco).