Tue 25 Dec 2007
In the Buddhist tradition, one is encouraged to find God in everything — oneself, one’s community, one’s life. Siddhartha Gautama did not try to explain the existence of a God, gods, or goddesses, or document the proper rituals and sacrifices to achieve oneness with God. He instead offered a wealth of specific teachings whose principles encourage a spiritual connection through commitment to self-discipline, meditation, and important moral rules. Found in a sacred text called Tripitaka, these teachings help Buddhists stay on their path toward Enlightenment, a state of being where you do not experience suffering or desire.
Buddhists also have a deep respect for life and believe that their behavior in this life will affect their experiences in the next. In effect, they believe, “What goes around comes around.”
