Buddhism - some details.

This page is just a collection of the fundamentals of Buddhism for your (and my) quick reference.

Four Noble Truths.

"I teach suffering, its origin, cessation and path. That's all I teach", declared the Buddha 2500 years ago.
The Four Noble Truths contain the essence of the Buddha's teachings. It was these four principles that the Buddha came to understand during his meditation under the bodhi tree.

1. The truth of suffering (The truth is that life contains suffering. Or in the words of Monty Python -"Life's a bit of shit, when you look at it".)
2. The truth of the origin of suffering (The origin is that we create it with our minds, as we do all things.)
3. The truth of the cessation of suffering (We can stop it with our minds, yeh!)
4. The truth of the path to the cessation of suffering (read below for the secret to life the universe and everything, and it's not 42.)

The Buddha is often compared to a physician. In the first two Noble Truths he diagnosed the problem (suffering) and identified its cause. The third Noble Truth is the realisation that there is a cure.
The fourth Noble Truth, in which the Buddha set out the Eightfold Path, is the prescription, the way to achieve a release from suffering.

Noble Eight Fold Path.

The Noble Eightfold Path is essentially the final Noble Truth. The Buddha's prescription for the end of suffering. It is a set of principles. The Eightfold Path is also called the Middle Way: it avoids both indulgence and severe asceticism, neither of which the Buddha had found helpful in his search for enlightenment.

The wheel of the Dharma, the symbol of the Eightfold Path ©
 

The Noble Eightfold Path is not a step by step path to be taken in order, but rather support and reinforce each other:

1. Right Understanding - Accepting Buddhist teachings. (The Buddha never intended his followers to believe his teachings blindly, but to practise them and judge for themselves whether they were true.)
2. Right Intention - A commitment to cultivate the right attitudes.
3. Right Speech - Speaking truthfully, avoiding slander, gossip and abusive speech.
4. Right Action -Behaving peacefully and harmoniously; refraining from stealing, killing and overindulgence in sensual pleasure.
5. Right Livelihood - Avoiding making a living in ways that cause harm, such as exploiting people or killing animals, or trading in intoxicants or weapons.
6. Right Effort - Cultivating positive states of mind; freeing oneself from evil and unwholesome states and preventing them arising in future.
7. Right Mindfulness - Developing awareness of the body, sensations, feelings and states of mind.
8. Right Concentration - Developing the mental focus necessary for this awareness.

The eight stages can be grouped into Wisdom (right understanding and intention), Ethical Conduct (right speech, action and livelihood) and Meditation (right effort, mindfulness and concentration). The Buddha described the Eightfold Path as a means to enlightenment, like a raft for crossing a river. Once one has reached the opposite shore, one no longer needs the raft and can leave it behind.
I think this link is a good place to find more if you want to and it is where I got the above from.  I don't know if it totally accurate but I like it.

BBC Religion

My 2cents worth. 
I don't know what others think but no matter what background, religion, culture, family, tribe, planet, way of life you come from; these all look like a good way to live.  There is no mention in these about believe in a God or Gods. So I think you could still follow any religion you like and be able to apply these. 

The Six Perfections

1. Generosity
2. Morality
3. Patience
4. Right Effort or Energy
5. Meditation
6. Wisdom

It is said that these perfections are the true nature of an Enlightened Being. Therefore to become an Enlightened being - one needs to perfect these virtues.

You can find out more about these at this site which looks OK to be.

The Six Perfections

Bowing

In Buddhism, bowing is a physical expression of the Buddha's teaching. It is a dropping away of the ego and whatever we are clinging to. However, it is not an act of self-abasement but rather an acknowledgment that self-and-other are not really two separate things.

10 life changing lessons from Buddha:

1. Your thoughts become words and your words have the power to heal or harm. It’s your choice.

“Words have the power to both destroy and heal. When words are both true and kind, they can change our world.” – Buddha

All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think we become.” – Buddha

“Whatever words we utter should be chosen with care for people will hear them and be influenced by them for good or ill.” – Buddha

“You will not be punished for your anger, you will be punished by your anger.” – Buddha 

“All wrong-doing arises because of mind. If mind is transformed can wrong-doing remain?” – Buddha

“We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.”– Buddha

“He is able who thinks he is able.” – Buddha

2. There’s enough for everyone, and your happiness doesn’t decrease by sharing.

“Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.” – Buddha

3. You must let go of fear in order to live fully.

“The whole secret of existence is to have no fear. Never fear what will become of you, depend on no one. Only the moment you reject all help are you freed.” – Buddha

4. The truth will come out. Believe in your own truth.

“Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.” – Buddha

“Believe nothing, no matter where you read it or who has said it, not even if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.” – Buddha

“Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.” – Buddha

5. You deserve love from others, but most importantly, you deserve love from yourself.

“You can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.” – Buddha

6. We’re all looking for a spiritual life that nourishes our soul and allows us to thrive.

“Just as a candle cannot burn without fire, men cannot live without a spiritual life.” – Buddha

“The way is not in the sky. The way is in the heart.” – Buddha

“To conquer oneself is a greater task than conquering others.” – Buddha

“The only real failure in life is not to be true to the best one knows.” – Buddha

7. Peace is the answer, and it truly only comes from within.

“Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.” – Buddha

“Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.” – Buddha

“Those who are free of resentful thoughts surely find peace.” – Buddha

8. Choose your friends very wisely.

“An insincere and evil friend is more to be feared than a wild beast; a wild beast may wound your body, but an evil friend will wound your mind.” – Buddha

“A good friend who points out mistakes and imperfections and rebukes evil is to be respected as if he reveals a secret of hidden treasure.” – Buddha

9. We’re all one. Forget the labels.

“In the sky, there is no distinction of east and west; people create distinctions out of their own minds and then believe them to be true.” – Buddha

“Unity can only be manifested by the Binary. Unity itself and the idea of Unity are already two.” – Buddha

“He who experiences the unity of life sees his own Self in all beings, and all beings in his own Self, and looks on everything with an impartial eye.” – Buddha

10. Happiness isn’t a destination – it’s your journey. Enjoy that journey.

“There is no path to happiness: happiness is the path.” – Buddha 

“A jug fills drop by drop.” – Buddha

It is better to travel well than to arrive.” – Buddha

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• Is Buddhism working for you? I would love to hear from others who follow the path of the middle way.