Ladakh_Spituk_3.jpg (100107 bytes)
The historical Buddha Sakyamuni in the Spituk Gompa near Leh in Ladakh 
Photo: Copyright: Klaus Dierks

 

A SHORT HISTORY OF BUDDHISM

Klaus Dierks
(Based on: John Snelling: The Buddhist Handbook)

 

 

 1.0  THE ROOTS OF BUDDHISM

1.1  Basic Principles

1.  Freedom from dogma and finding the truth for oneself. Buddhism is not an authoritarian religion with a centralised authority that grants or with-holds approval. It is for the individual to test the ground, guided by common sense and Buddha's teaching;

2. Tolerance;

3. A liberal tradition of free inquiry;

4. Practical methods;

5. Healing and transformation.

In a nutshell: Buddhism is an atheistic salvation philosophy. 

Himalaya: No Air for Breathing

forward.GIF (132 bytes)