Buddhism As a college student that has lived and grown up in western New York, I do not have too much experience with the other religions of the world. I have grown up a Christian Protestant my whole life, and I am a firm believer in my religion. Soon after reading the chapter on Buddhism in Huston Smith’s book The World’s Religions, I came to understand and respect the Buddhist religion. I came to learn who the Buddha as a man really was, and the steps he took in becoming a religious icon. I know understand that Buddhism is not all meditation and relaxing. There is a strict code of the four noble truths and the prescription of getting through them called the eightfold path. Much like Christianity Buddhism also has many different views …show more content…

The first step is that a person has to have the right views on life, which are their beliefs and values. The second step an individual has to have the right intent. The person has to follow what their heart says is the right thing to do. The third step is right speech in the eightfold path. A persons speech tells much about their character, so that means no chatter, gossip, and slander. The fourth step deals with the right conduct. Here like in the bible’s Ten Commandments, Buddhists have general guidelines to follow. They are do not kill, do not steal, do not lie, do not be unchaste, and do not drink intoxicants. Following these will lead you in the right path to enlightenment. The fifth step is the right livelihood. This means that an individual’s occupation is not to be a speculator or a user of others. The sixth step is the right effort, for in order to obtain enlightenment it takes a great amount of commitment and immense exertion. The seventh step in the eightfold path is the right mindfulness. This means individuals have to become one with their thoughts and understand. Then when they understand they are open to a number of insights. The final step in the eightfold path is right concentration. When a individual and just sit and concentrate and block out all distractions, desires, cravings, hostility, and temptations they will be one and have been enlightened. Much like in