Buddha Community

The answer is that Buddhists may believe in lots of things, but not  in belief.  This is a pretty succinct way of summarising the relative lack of importance that Buddhist teachings place on doctrinal belief. Belief does exist, but is regarded as of relatively minor importance on the path to enlightenment. One problem with belief - especially in metaphysical ideas - is that it can encourage a lot of speculative views and opinions, which are not viewed very favourably in Buddhism for some good reasons.

If we attach blindly and strongly to views and opinions (beliefs) we can end up persecuting others who hold different beliefs. There is plenty of historic and current evidence for this. More importantly though, if we mistakenly believe that the spiritual life is all about identifying the right beliefs and clinging blindly to them then our openness to life becomes blocked and we stagnate.  We can no longer develop. Our willingness and ability to be with the present moment and to truthfully and mindfully examine our experience is overlaid by judgment and opinion. We cannot respond insightfully to the truth of the way things are for us.

When we start with Buddhist practice the first belief we might have is that 'this looks interesting, I have enough confidence to give meditation a try'. Gradually we may develop trust in the teachings as our practice starts to bear fruit.

Really the practice is about putting effort in and observing the results and gradually building up a trust and faith in what we are doing. There is no necessity to accept doctrine on how the world began and in supernatural beings and in the need to perform certain rituals. Some of these things do feature in Buddhism, but they are not central to Buddhist practice. Buddhism is  about cultivating skilful mental qualities which lead to our own and others benefit. So practices which develop compassion, generosity, intelligence, wisdom and virtue are encouraged.

So a statement on what Buddhists believe might state - 'that it is good to cultivate the human qualities of wisdom, compassion, generosity, virtue and intelligence and that enlightenment is the most worthwhile aspiration'.

A simple description of what Buddhism is might be: 'the serious pursuit of true happiness for oneself and others'.

Belief and faith are worth reflecting upon. What is the difference? Faith in mainstream Buddhism is more akin to trustful confidence than with intellectual belief in things which cannot be proved. It is the feeling that we develop when we know that we can rely on something. Although initially we may have to take the teachings on trust, when we try them out we know whether of not they work. We develop trustful confidence based upon insight.

Buddhism does not consider that it has an exclusive monopoly on the truth - the Dhamma. The 'Dhamma' as the 'way things are' is a natural truth or law which is available to all and does not require that we are members of a special group or believe in specific dogma. However, Buddhism does regard its teachings as a focussed, comprehensive, direct and effective path to spiritual enlightenment. It offers a teaching for 'those with little dust in their eyes'.

Like all faiths, Buddhism has scriptures. The Tipitaka (or Pali Canon) is a large collection of discourses, teachings and commentaries, which are highly regarded by those following the Buddhist path. They are not, however, regarded as 'sacred' and perfect doctrines which we must simply believe in order to be saved. The Tipitaka  might best be viewed as  ethical, psychological and philosophical recipe books to enable us to live happier lives.

The Pali Canon is also not identified in any way with an imagined creator God. To view any scripture in this way -- as somehow the literal word of a god--at the very least can easily become a form of idolatry, and at worst the justification for endless intolerance and violence against those who do not believe.

All books, however inspired, are conditioned creations and subject to potential error and imperfection. Buddhist scriptures provide invaluable guidance and pointers for action. They are being used correctly when they stimulate mindfulness, virtue and insight - when they lead to open and receptive states of mind rather than to fixed or 'grasping' viewpoints or activities.