Buddhisms core values are to refrain from evil, to do good and to purify the heart.

The Four Noble Truths are;

• 1) There is suffering.

• 2) There is a cause for the suffering. That is caused by desire and attachment.

• 3) There is a way to eliminate the suffering, Which is to stop the cause of this suffering.

• 4) The way leading to the elimination of suffering is the Eightfold Noble Path.

Remember all thing are impermanent and changing.

The Eightfold Noble Path

• 1) Right understanding

• 2) Right thought

• 3) Right speech

• 4) Right action

• 5) Right livelyhood

• 6) Right effort

• 7) Right mindfulness and

• 8) Right concentration. Everything you need to know about Buddhism and Enlightenment is here.

1 and 2 have to do with wisdom which fights ignorance. 3 4 and 5 are about morality which fights hatred. 6 7 and 8 are about concentration which fights greed. The path is broken into three parts. Budda taught the Eight fold Path in different ways depending on his students character. For someone overwhelmed by greed he started with concenstration. For someone full of hatred he focused on morality. The three sections are to be studied as is approprate to the student.

Right understanding is the foundation of wisdom and the cessation of suffering. Right thought entails using right understanding in order for your mind to aspire to thoughts which are free of greed hatred and ignorance. With right thought you achieve a mind which is mostly still and full of loving- kindness


A person becomes a Buddhist by taking the Three Refuges, that is the Buddha, The Dhamma or his Teachings, and The Sangha or the community of enlightened beings. The Buddha said:

"To take refuge in the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha and to see with real understanding the Four Noble Truths, ~ Suffering, the Cause of Suffering, the Transcending of Suffering and the Noble Eightfold Path that leads to the transcending of suffering, This indeed is a safe refuge, it is the refuge supreme. It is the refuge whereby one is freed from all suffering."

To take refuge, it is best done with the guidance of a monk. However, if such a person is not available, one may take refuge before an image of the Buddha. Place this image, which may be a statue,a picture or even a computer graphic such that when you kneel before it, it is at the level of your head or higher. Kneel before the image and put your palms together at your chest. Compose yourself, calm your mind and bow three times to the image such that your palms and forehead touches the floor. Then recite the following formula in Pali, which is the ancient language of the scriptural texts.

Namo tassa, bhagavato, arahato samma sambuddhasa
Namo tassa, bhagavato, arahato samma sambuddhasa
Namo tassa, bhagavato, arahato, samma sambuddhasa

Buddham saranam gacchami,
Dhammam saranam gacchami,
Sangham saranam gacchami.

Dutiyampi Buddham saranam gacchami,
Dutiyampi Dhammam saranam gacchami,
Dutiyampi Sangham saranam gacchami.

Tatiyampi Buddham saranam gacchami,
Tatiyampi Dhammam saranam gacchami,
Tatiyampi Sangham saranam gacchami.
This means:

Homage to Him, the Exalted One, the Worthy One, The Supremely Enlightened One
Homage to Him, the Exalted One, the Worthy One, The Supremely Enlightened One
Homage to Him, the Exalted One, the Worthy One, The Supremely Enlightened One

I go to the Buddha as my refuge.
I go to the Dhamma as my refuge.
I go to the Sangha as my refuge.

For the second time, I go to the Buddha as my refuge.
For the second time, I go to the Dhamma as my refuge.
For the second time, I go to the Sangha as my refuge.

For the third time, I go to the Buddha as my refuge.
For the third time, I go to the Dhamma as my refuge.
For the third time, I go to the Sangha as my refuge.

CONGRATULATIONS!
You are now officially a Buddhist. But wait, the ceremony is not complete. The Buddha recommends that all his disciples keep the minimum of the Five Precepts. These are not rigid commandments that one is compelled to live by. They really are more like training rules that are taken voluntarily. They establish your virtue and protect you from harm in this life as well as in future lives. It is the foundation for your spiritual journey.