Introductory teachings    


Buddha and Buddhism  | Basics of Buddhas teachings  | Methods  |  Advanced  
   
 

The Four Noble Truths
The four noble truths explain basis, path, and goal on all three levels of Buddhist teachings.   

The Three Kinds of Suffering
This chapter describes different states of suffering we are caught in until we experience the only lasting happiness – enlightenment.   

The Three Ways
You can divide Buddha’s teachings very differently. This chapter deals with the most often used division into Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana, since it refers to different levels of practice.   

What is Buddhism?
This chapter describes the three pillars (information, meditation, and holding the level) Buddha's teachings rest upon and which lead to the goal of, enlightenment.   

Samsara - the Wheel of Life
As long as we have not realized the nature of our mind, we will be continuously reborn. The kind of rebirth we take depends on which disturbing emotion had been predominant in our life. 

Samsara and Nirvana
These two opposed terms describe the conditioned world (Samsara) and the inner freedom from it (Nirvana). On different levels of teaching, Nirvana is seen as a goal or an intermediate goal, while in the highest view in the Diamondwa, you experience the conditioned world as a “pure land”.

Karma - Cause and Effect
From the Buddhist point of view Karma is not the same as fate, but the basis of personal freedom and universal responsibility for all living beings.  

Positive and Negative Actions
Buddhists practice positive actions, which lead to positive impressions in mind. They open the door to general well-being as well as more powerful meditation, and it becomes easier to recognize mind's true nature. 

Rebirth
The topic rebirth has opposite facets for many human beings: Some believe that it cannot be proved; some others say that it cannot be refuted. However, when examined more closely, there are many reasons speaking for its existence.  

Enlightenment
This chapter describes the three pillars (information, meditation, and holding the level) Buddha's teachings rest upon and which lead to the goal of, enlightenment.   

Buddha - Nature
Buddha nature is the highest potential inherent in all of us. The goal of Buddha’s teachings is realizing our Buddha nature.