Expert: Anandapanyo Bhikkhu - 1/12/2012

Question
Dear Bhikkhu

I'm reading Siddhartha, and it suddenly occurred to me that I don't know anything about Buddhism.I'm completely lost! Could you please answer the following questions.

1. How is Buddhism different from Hinduism?

2. Do Buddhist believe in heaven, hell, reincarnation, nirvana?

3. What exactly is nirvana?

4. What do Buddhist believe?

5. When christian go to church, they sings hymn and listen to sermons. When Buddhist go to temple what do they do?

6. Why do Buddhist offer fruit, incense, or money to Buddha? Is it for good luck?

7.Is Buddhism the ONLY path to happiness or can Christian find happiness their own religions (i.e. baptist, Methodist, Catholic)


Thank you for your time!

Priscilla

Answer
Dear Priscilla,

Thank you for the opportunity to answer your questions.

"1. How is Buddhism different from Hinduism?"

Buddhism has two unique concepts that no other religions have:
1.   Nibbana
2.   Anatta

However, I am not an expert on Hinduism, so I cannot speak upon what they teach.


"2. Do Buddhist believe in heaven, hell, reincarnation, nirvana?"

Yes...and you missed one fundamental tenet - KARMA


"3. What exactly is nirvana?"

Nibbana is the end of suffering and happiness. When a person extinguishes the five aggregates, they are said to have attained Nibbana. Nibbana does not exist as a location, and of those who attain Nibbana characteristically do not come back and become reincarnated, no one truly knows what precisely Nibbana is. This is akin to asking where a light goes after the electricity has gone out. No one can explain where it goes, yet it is obvious that there is no more light. All we can know is what we can infer and from what the Buddha told us of Nibbana.
Happiness and suffering alternate. Suffering and happiness are two sides of the same coin. Suffering cannot be avoided without avoiding happiness. Happiness cannot be obtained without obtaining suffering. Therefore, if we no longer have suffering and happiness and neither suffering nor happiness, that is what Nibbana is.

The Buddha said that Nibbana is

"This is peace, this is exquisite — the resolution of all fabrications, the relinquishment of all acquisitions, the ending of craving; dispassion; cessation; Nibbana."
— AN 3.32

"There is that dimension where there is neither earth, nor water, nor fire, nor wind; neither dimension of the infinitude of space, nor dimension of the infinitude of consciousness, nor dimension of nothingness, nor dimension of neither perception nor non-perception; neither this world, nor the next world, nor sun, nor moon. And there, I say, there is neither coming, nor going, nor stasis; neither passing away nor arising: without stance, without foundation, without support [mental object]. This, just this, is the end of stress."
—Ud 8.1


"4. What do Buddhist believe?"

Buddhism is a religion/philosophy that is based on the teachings of Gautama Buddha. It is a spiritual practice that leads to the uncovering of the truth.
Buddhism teaches that it is because we do not recognize the truth that we have stress and suffering in our lives.  Once we recognize the truth, we can take steps to destroy the cause of our stress and suffering and arrive at the cessation of suffering.


"5. When christian go to church, they sings hymn and listen to sermons. When Buddhist go to temple what do they do?"

Many Many Many Things: Make Offerings, listen to sermons, have discussions, meditate, socialize, chantings, eat food....

"6. Why do Buddhist offer fruit, incense, or money to Buddha? Is it for good luck?"

Whether for good luck or not, Buddhists make offerings or "Dana" for Good Karma and the creation of
merit and the decreasing of greed and desire.

"7.Is Buddhism the ONLY path to happiness or can Christian find happiness their own religions (i.e. baptist, Methodist, Catholic)"

Many religions or philosophies that teach you to do good, they can result in you being born in heaven, however, only Buddhism can lead to Nirvana.

I hope I have adequately answered your questions. Please feel free to ask more if you need more clarity.