How Do Buddhists Worship?
Buddhist worship takes many forms, but the one constant all Buddhists abide by is a devotion to the Buddha and his teachings, explains the BBC. Buddhists are to be mindfully aware of The Four Noble Truths and the magnitude of good karma. As for traditional temple worship, Buddhists often sit barefoot on the floor and face a statue of the Buddha while praying.
Buddhism is a very mindful religion, and is often considered a philosophy as well as a faith. Buddhism was founded when Siddhartha Gautama gave up his materialistic possessions to pursue a life of understanding. He became a monk, and worked to achieve mental enlightenment. When he claimed to have found this enlightenment, Gautama became known as the Buddha. The Buddha began to traverse India and teach others about his newfound clarity. Buddhists often reflect on these teachings using prayer aids, like beads and chants.
The Four Noble Truths provide a general template for the Buddha’s teachings. The First Truth acknowledges there is suffering in the world. The Second Truth acknowledges desire and ignorance are the cause of this suffering. The Third Truth claims that by achieving Nirvana, or enlightenment, Buddhists can be free of suffering. The Fourth Truth emphasizes the paths Buddhists must take to achieve true understanding. Buddhist teachings also led to the widespread acceptance of the idea of karma. Karma claims that good deeds are rewarded and bad deeds are punished. Buddhists also believe in reincarnation.
