Instant Buddhism

Unlike other religions, all a person needs to do to be a Buddhist is to be fan of Buddha. Being a fan of Buddha is easy. His core teaching basically revolves around the Four Fold Truth and the Eight Fold Path.

Buddha teaches how to recognize the state of mind that produces unsatisfactory reaction to our understanding of reality. He's goal is to show us how we can get out of a condition of suffering and instead be totally present in a moment of pure happiness.

All of our lives, we were made to believe that happiness comes from doing things -- avoiding pain, accumulating wealth, seeking pleasure. But Buddha realized that there is a difference between pleasure and happiness. He realized that there are certain truths that we avoid that in the end, do not really make us happy. He says only through understanding and acceptance of the truth can a person find real happiness.

Buddha presents a road to happiness by making us aware of the foremost disease of life -- suffering. He elaborates this in what Buddhists now know as the "Four Noble Truths":

1. This is a life of suffering.
2. The cause of this suffering is desire.
3. To cure suffering, you must end desire.
4. To end that desire we must follow the "eight fold path."

The eight fold path is this:

1. Appropriate View
2. Appropriate Intention
3. Appropriate Speech
4. Appropriate Action
5. Appropriate Livelihood
6. Appropriate Effort
7. Appropriate Mindfulness
8. Appropriate Concentration

Buddhism offers an alternative perspective on life. It offers self introspection and understanding. It is a practice of ethical living. The advantage of ethical living is living a life without remorse or fear. It is a feeling of wellness and good will towards everything. It develops our loving kindness towards others that leads to lesser stress and more harmonious life.