▶ What is Buddhism?
Buddhism originated about 2,500 years ago when Siddhata Gotama, known as Buddha, was himself awakened at the age of 35. Therefore, the best explanation of  Buddha's teachings comes from the Buddha himself.

The word Buddhism comes from 'budhi', which means 'to awaken (enlightened)'. And the teachings are called the 'Dharma' in Sanskrit meaning 'the way things are'. So Buddhism can be seen as a set of tools that enable us to be awaken to see things as they really are here and now.

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▶ Who was Buddha?
Siddhata Gotoma, Buddha, was born in northen India in 563 B.C. (about 2,560 years ago) into the royal family of a highly developed culture. He enjoyed extremely privileged circumstances up until the age of 29. At the age of 29, however, he realized that the wealth and luxury did not guarantee happiness. This was because for over three consecutive days outside the palace the prince saw very sick person, somebody old and someone who had died. Upon his recognition of the inevitability of old age, sickness, death and the impermanence of everything, he became deeply troubled.

His view of the world turned upside down and left the palace leaving everything behind for good searching for teachings that could overcome death and suffering. He studied with various teachers, but none of them could lead him to his ultimate goal.

At the age of 35, after six years of deep meditation, he realized the true nature of mind and was enlightened. After the enlightenment until his death at the age of 80, the Buddha spent rest of his life teaching thousands of gifted students a path to enlightenment from his own experience.

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▶ Are there different types of Buddhism?
There are many different types of Buddhism, because the emphasis change from country to country due to customs and culture.  What does not change, however, is the essence of Buddha's teaching - the Dharma. 'Small Way' and 'Great Way' are the two most largely known types. Those who wanted to avoid suffering received information about cause and effect followed the 'Small Way'. Those who wanted to do more for others were given instructions on compassion and wisdom followed 'Great Way'.

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▶ What is the main teaching of Buddhism?
The Buddha taught various things, but his ultimate teaching was attaining the highest state of enlightenment.

The principles of this world(Sabha) in Buddha's eyes were as follows. The nature of all beings, even an ant, want happiness and want to avoid suffering. Whatever was born, will die, whatever flock together will scatter, and whatever appeared will disappear. The world is really a matrix of causes and effects and that our present actions, words and thoughts will become our future. Whether we realize it or not, everything we do, say or think leaves impressions both inside ourselves and outside in the world. These impressions will later return to us. Negative impressions especially will manifest as suffering or unpleasant situations in the future. If we cling to our ordinary values we cannot avoid suffering. If we keep thinking "I am my body" and "These things are mine", old age, sickness, death and loss will be exceedingly unpleasant. Nobody can avoid pain by saying: "This stuff with enlightenment is too difficult for me", because if we were born, we'll surely die. Considering these factors gives the basis for buddhist practice and meditation.

Our time is limited. It is certain that our lives will end, but we do not know when. So, recognizing that we have this chance now and actually wanting to use it is also something extremely valuable.
There is no greater purpose in life than to find values which permanently overcome suffering and death. The benefits of enlightenment are, therefore, immeasurable for both oneself and all other beings.

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▶ What is enlightenment?
If we look at what the Buddha discovered about mind 2,550 years ago, we find that he realized mind as a clear light. The mind hasn't been born, and it cannot die. Bodies, thoughts and feelings appear, change and disappear again. Thus, the mind itself can neither be hurt nor be harmed but being opened into the clear and limitless space. So when the Buddha obtained liberation, he found that he was not the target anymore. He was not that body which could be in trouble, nor was he those thoughts and feelings which could change and disappear - instead he was radiant awareness. This led to enlightenment, the realization that there is no separation between space and energy at any time or place. He knew and was aware of all things. He felt the great joy and expressed the great love which is the meaning of all things; which makes every atom stick together and vibrate and which makes all things happen in the world.

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▶ What is Karma?
According to Buddhism, there is no one in charge of the universe who distributes rewards and punishments. We create the causes by our actions and we experience the results. We are responsible for own experience. The Buddha didn't create the system of actions and their effects, in the same way that Newton didn't invent gravity. Newton simply described what exists. Likewise, the Buddha described what he saw with his omniscient mind to be the natural process of cause and effect occurring within the mindstream of each being. By doing this, he showed us how best to work within the functioning of cause and effect in order to experience happiness and avoid pain.

When we see dishonest people who are wealthy, or cruel people who are powerful, or kind people who die young, we may doubt the law of actions and their effects. This is because we are looking at only a short period of this one life. Many of the results we experience in this life are the results of actions done in previous lives, and many of the actions we do in this life will ripen only in future lives. The wealth of dishonest people is the result of their generosity in previous lives. Their current dishonesty is leaving the karmic seed for them to be cheated and to experience poverty in future lives. Likewise, the respect and authority given to cruel people is due to positive actions they did in the past life. In the present, they are misusing their power, thus creating the cause for future pain. Kind people who die young are experiencing the result of negative actions such as killing done in past lives. However, their present kindness is planting seeds or imprints on their mindstreams for them to experience happiness in the future.

Karma is both collective and individual. Collective karma is the actions we do together as a group: soldiers use weapons, a group of religious practitioners pray or meditate. The results of these actions are experienced as a group, often in future lives. Yet each member of a group thinks, speaks, and acts slightly differently, thus creating individual karma, the results of which each person will experience himself or herself.

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▶ How does rebirth work?
To understand this it is important to know that mind is not produced by the impermanent brain, but is transformed by it. Its stream of information is held together by the illusion of a 'self' and moves from one conditioned existence to the next, picking up the experiences which mature as one's next life. The space-like nature of mind cannot die or be born. What is actually reborn is this constantly changing flow like a river. Being in a permanent self is a basic misconception, which carries on after death and will result in our next conditioned rebirth.

One's body and mind experiences a series of constantly changing sensory and subconscious impressions, one superseded by the next, where nothing permanent in our body, feelings or thoughts can be found. At death, this stream is cut off from the sensory experiences of the body. Mind's strongest tendencies will then mature and connect one with one's next body, physical or mental.

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▶ What are the 5 Buddhist percepts?
The moral code within Buddhism is the precepts, of which the main five are: not to take the life of anything, not to take anything not freely given, to abstain from sexual misconduct and sensual overindulgence, to refrain from untrue speech, and to avoid intoxication, that is, losing mindfulness.

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▶ Can a non-Buddhist attend a Buddhist service?
Most Buddhist temples welcome non-Buddhists. More well-established temples often post announcements in local newspapers as to their schedules of services. It is appropriate to call ahead to ask whether visitors are welcome at a given religious observance. Visitors are free to participate in communal ritual as they wish. Major ritual activities include offering incense, chanting texts from the Sutras or singing hymns, and quiet meditation. Guests who choose not to participate should observe in silence from the back or side of the temple.

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▶ Do Buddhist worship Idols? Why do Buddhists bow?
Buddhist sometimes pay respect to images of the Buddha, not in worship, nor to ask of favours. When a Buddhist prostrates before an image, he acknowledges the fact that the Buddha has attained the perfect and supreme Enlightenment. Such an act helps the Buddhist to overcome egoistic feelings and he becomes more ready to listen to the Teaching of the Buddha. Therefore, bowing to the statue is an expression of gratitude for the teaching.

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▶ Are other religions wrong?
Buddhism is also a belief system which is tolerant of all other beliefs or religions. Buddhism agrees with the moral teachings of other religions but Buddhism goes further by providing a long term purpose within our existence, through wisdom and true understanding. Real Buddhism is very tolerant and not concerned with labels like 'Christian', 'Moslem', 'Hindu', or 'Buddhist'; that's why there have never been any wars fought in the name of Buddhism in the past history. That is why Buddhists do not preach and try to convert, only explain if an explanation is sought.

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