Buddhism
What teachings would a convert to Buddhism have to accept? A convert Buddhism would have to take into account many guidelines to help them progress on the spiritual path to enlightenment, but as these teachings are only guidelines a Buddhist does not have to follow them.
One of the most basic Buddhist beliefs is known as the `3 Refuges'. A refuge is a place of shelter and safety from harm. The 3 things or `refuges' that Buddhists find safety or shelter in, when in times of trouble, are chanted in the `Tisinara'. They are: (Pali version) - Buddham saranam gacchami Dhammam saranam gacchami Sangham saranam gacchami This means in English - I take refuge in the Buddha I take refuge in the Dharma I take refuge in the Sangha Buddha is the enlightened being, Dharma is the teaching, and Sangha is the community.
A Buddhist can find refuge in the Buddha, as he is the first to find enlightenment, and he is an inspiration to find enlightenment. As he is a normal human figure A Buddhist can find refuge in the Dharma, as they are the teachings of the Buddha, and can help you to reach enlightenment, as it is there to give a Buddhist advice.
A Buddhist can find refuge in the Sangha, as this is the community of Buddhists. They can help and support you to find the right path to enlightenment. Another teaching a Buddhist may follow is The Three Marks of Conditioned Existence, Anicca, Anatta, and Dukkha. `Conditional Existence' is the idea that everyone depends on something else. For example a fish can't live without water, or a human can't live without air. Everything that exists needs something else to survive.
Anicca is the first mark of existence; it is a Buddhist assertion that `everything changes'. This is the idea that nothing is permanent, things are constantly changing, and nothing is fixed. Everything depends...
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