Buddhism: Introduction

Although Buddhism was eventually made into an organized religion, it was originally just the philosophy (Greek word meaning "love of wisdom") of one man named Siddhartha Gautama. He taught by word of mouth to his fellow men. None of the Buddhist doctrine appeared until approximately 400 years after the death of the Buddha. The Buddha's final words were, "All composite things pass away. Strive for your own salvation with diligence."

Images of a Jolly Buddha or Laughing Buddha are often mistakenly assumed to be that of Siddhartha Gautama, but in fact they are based on a wandering Zen monk named Hotei. On the contrary, Buddha was very athletic and well trained in martial arts. He was of Indo-Aryan (aristocratic nobility) lineage, born of the warrior (kshatriya) caste of Vedic Brahmanism, and was at least 6 feet tall with golden colored skin. Kings often attempted to recruit him to join their army as a general.

Buddha was an excellent communicator, often tailoring his teachings to the audience at hand. This is why sometimes there appear to be contradictions in his teachings. He taught different teachings based on levels of understanding. If you can not understand the lower level teachings, then it is more difficult, if not impossible to understand the higher level teachings. For example, you have to have basic understanding of mathematics before you can advance to algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and so on.

The Buddha encouraged everyone to investigate his teachings and confirm their validity through direct experience:

Don't go by reports, by legends, by traditions, by scripture, by logical conjecture, by inference, by analogies, by agreement through pondering views, by probability, or by the thought, "This contemplative is our teacher." When you know for yourselves that, "These qualities are unskillful; these qualities are blameworthy; these qualities are criticized by the wise; these qualities, when adopted & carried out, lead to harm & to suffering" - then you should abandon them. Thus was it said. And in reference to this was it said.

...don't go by reports, by legends, by traditions, by scripture, by logical conjecture, by inference, by analogies, by agreement through pondering views, by probability, or by the thought, "This contemplative is our teacher." When you know for yourselves that, "These qualities are skillful; these qualities are blameless; these qualities are praised by the wise; these qualities, when adopted & carried out, lead to welfare & to happiness" - then you should enter & remain in them. (AN 3.65)

Anyone interested in Buddhism should begin with this basic introductory teaching - The Four Noble Truths