My Faith, by Christina Moss

Two and a half thousand years ago in what is now NE India, Lord Buddha – born Prince Siddhartha - demonstrated the 12 great deeds. These typify the stages of gaining Buddhahood:

A Buddha is regarded as a being who has abandoned all mental confusion and instead manifests the spiritual qualities of compassion, wisdom and power in their most complete form.

His teaching, or DHARMA is expressed most famously in the Four Noble Truths :

Followers of the Buddha’s Dharma, who may be ordained or lay practitioners, are known as the SANGHA.

The Buddha, Dharma and Sangha are collectively referred to as the 3 Jewels and are held in the highest esteem.

The early stages of the path are characterised by 4 contemplations which refine the understanding of the practitioner:

But these contemplations are not limited to novices – they underpin one’s spiritual practice until the time of enlightenment.

The Buddha’s teachings have been transmitted from master to disciple throughout the centuries. The authentic realisation of the master guarantees the efficacy of the teachings. Distinct lineages of teaching have arisen in different geographical areas and these frequently reflect local culture. – a diversity that can easily be seen in calendars of festivals of Buddhist countries. On a deeper level we see different aspects of the teachings being propagated in different areas.

In South-East Asia the Theravadin school has predominated, emphasizing individual liberation or “hinayana” instructions. Other areas have seen these teachings as the starting point for a different focus and emphasize liberation for the benefit of other s or “mahayana” teaching. The simple and austere Zen schools have flourished in the Far East and the Indo-Tibetan transmission evolved a systematisation of the whole of the spiritual path, culminating in the “vajrayana” or diamond vehicle, a sub-section of the Mahayana, containing particularly subtle methods of meditation.

All these great transmissions thrive today in the West and have adherents in our region.

In all traditions the ordained community of practitioners, if there is one, is supported by householders. The lay community may also engage in serious spiritual practice, either periodically or as a way of life. Thus solitary practitioners, ordained communities and laymen and –women can all be found representing Buddhadharma in the West.

For adherents to any Buddhist tradition, spiritual practice will normally combine prayer, meditation and performing virtuous deeds. The Buddha’s injunction to “hear, think and meditate” will be integrated into their daily lives.

Lay men and women live according to the Five Precepts:

Buddhists may not necessarily be vegetarian but are enjoined not to eat meat that has been specifically killed for them.

Many practitioners have a shrine in their home, where they make offerings and perform their contemplations. No special day of the week is sacred, but full moon and new moon days are considered especially appropriate for recollecting the deeds of the Buddha, renewing vows and reviewing one’s spiritual endeavours.

Christina Moss
DECHEN DZONG
January 2006

This page was last updated on: 27th Jul 2006