Expert: Alex Wilding - 2/13/2008

Question
Hello, I have a few questions, I have a paper that I have to write by this Sunday 2-17-08. I am hope that I ma not imposing.
1. What are the basic concepts of Buddhism?
2. Dose Buddhism have any holidays? If so what are they?
3.Why is Buddha some times pictured as being over weight?
4. Can you tell me what  on of the most used "prayers" or traditions and what is its meaning?
5.Can anyone became a Buddhist at any time?
6. Can you explained the concepts of meditation to me? What are you trying to archive with meditation?
7. What is the Noble Eight-fold Path?
8.As a Buddhist what do you think about other religions?
9. What are the Five Precepts?
10. What are the three refuges?

Wow, I am really sorry, this really seems like a lot. But I would really appreciate your help.

Thank you, Jaime

Answer
Dear Jaime,
Really for homework questions you are supposed to do your own research! But briefly:
1. What are the basic concepts of Buddhism?
a) Sooner or later, life leads to suffering
b) The main cause of that is our own mental poison
c) We can escape this cycle
d) By purifying our actions and our minds

2. Dose Buddhism have any holidays? If so what are they?
Yes, but they vary hugely from one tradition to another.

3.Why is Buddha some times pictured as being over weight?
Because when Buddhism got to China he was identified with a "god of happiness" that the Chinese knew and loved, and that god was traditionally shown as very well fed and happy!

4. Can you tell me what  on of the most used "prayers" or traditions and what is its meaning?
In Tibetan Buddhism people often recite this mantra:
Om mani padme Hum (sounds more like "Om mani peme hoong")
hundreds and thousands of times. It means something like:
"Oh Jewel-Lotus Hum"
"Jewel-Lotus" is one of the many names of the Buddha in a form that emphasizes compassion.

5.Can anyone became a Buddhist at any time?
More or less, provided you understand what that means. There are restrictions on people who want to be monks or nuns - they must be of a certain age, not married, not wanted by the police and a few things like that.
There are also special ceremonies (often quite simple) for "taking refuge in the three jewels" as we call it, but informally, from the heart, you can take refuge at any time.

6. Can you explained the concepts of meditation to me? What are you trying to archive with meditation?
Now that is *really* a big question. In Buddhism, meditation means a whole range of things done to cultivate our minds or to drive home certain parts of the teaching. Put simply, meditation is aimed at two things: a) focussing and steadying our mind (not "stopping" it exactly, but stopping it from running away with itself, and b) on that basis, getting an insight into the nature of things.

7. What is the Noble Eight-fold Path?
That comes under the fourth point of my first answer - *how* to purify our actions and our minds. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noble_eightfold_path

8.As a Buddhist what do you think about other religions?
Some are good, some are less helpful.

9. What are the Five Precepts?
Not to kill, steal, lie, get intoxicated or do sexually wrong things. (What the last one means depends on your circumstances.)

10. What are the three refuges?
Buddha, Dharma (the teaching), Sangha (monks and nuns, and people with a deep understanding and experience of the Buddhist path).

Good luck
Alex Wilding