Core Principles of Religion and Buddhist Philosophy

Six Core Aspects of Religiosity

There are six features of religion: authority, ritual, explanations, traditions, grace, and mystery.

• Authority: Leaving divine authority aside and approaching the matter in human terms only, authority is a central pillar.
• Ritual: A second normal feature of religion is ritual—the practices we perform for our faith.
• Explanation: The third aspect is explanation, which answers the profound questions in our minds.
• Tradition: Fourth is tradition, which helps us pass information and religious practices to future generations.
• Grace: A fifth typical feature of religion is grace—a belief often difficult to sustain in the face of harsh facts.
• Mystery: Finally, religion traffics in mystery. Not everything is fully explained; some events occur miraculously, meaning in a way that human beings cannot fully explain.

Understanding Caste and Karma

The caste system is a class structure determined by birth. This means you belong to the class into which you were born. Regardless of how well you live your life or how well-educated you are, you cannot "level up" within the caste system; your actions and personal success are irrelevant to this structure.

When it comes to Karma, it represents the "present condition of your soul." You have made yourself what you are, meaning you are responsible for your own destiny. Whatever you did in the past will reflect in your future.

The Image of the Crossing in Buddhism

There are three different modes of transport in Buddhism: the Little Raft, the Big Raft, and the Diamond Raft. Even though they each represent something different, they all exist under the umbrella of Buddhism. Together, they stand for the image of the crossing.

The crossing represents the enlightenment process. Since the main objective is the same—to reach Nirvana—the specific methods used do not matter as much. The difference in the metaphor of the rafts simply represents the diverse traditions within Buddhism.

The Eightfold Path and Seven Factors of Awakening

The Eightfold Path is part of the Fourth Noble Truth, which is the path leading to the end of suffering. Buddha taught that the way to achieve enlightenment and minimize human suffering was to live an ethical life.

The Seven Terms are also known as the Seven Factors of Awakening, which include:

• Mindfulness: To maintain awareness of reality.
• Investigation: Analyzing the nature of reality.
• Energy: Spiritual exertion.
• Joy: Spiritual rapture.
• Relaxation: Tranquility of mind and body.
• Concentration: One-pointedness of mind.
• Equanimity: To accept reality as it is.