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Buddhism (Buddhadharma)
Buddhism is a religion that teaches and emphasizes the importance of ending the revolving wheel of birth and death.
The word “Buddhadharma” refers to the Buddhist teachings. Buddhists refer to the Buddha’s teachings as “Buddhadharma.” You will often come across the word “Buddhadharma” in this City of 10,000 Buddhas website.
When the Venerable Master Hsuan Hua was lecturing on the Prologue to the Avatamsaka Sutra, he explained Buddhism in this way:
“Buddhism is a religion that teaches people to end birth and death…
“Buddhism is just the Teaching of living beings. If there were no living beings, there wouldn’t be any Buddhism. And the Teaching of living beings is just the Teaching of the Mind. Every person has a mind, and it is that teaching. That teaching is not obtained from outside. You have it to start with. If you believe that teaching, you have that teaching; and if you don’t believe that teaching, you still have that teaching, because everyone has a mind. You can’t say you don’t have a mind. If you didn’t have a mind, that teaching wouldn’t exist, and without that teaching there wouldn’t be living beings. And if there were no living beings, there wouldn’t be Buddhas either. That’s the name I give it: the Teaching of living beings, and the Teachings of the Mind – Buddhism. The three names refer to the same thing…
“When you study Buddhism, what in fact do you study? You study Enlightenment, going back to the origin, returning to the source. It means enlightening to what you are not enlightened to.”
Buddhism teaches a unique Way to Enlightenment.
In the Avatamsaka Sutra, a verse says:
“The Buddhadharma is subtle, wondrous, and profound.
It is beyond words and ineffable.
Neither combined nor uncombined,
It is still and quiescence in nature, devoid of marks.”Before accessing the Buddhadharma in this site, please click on: Respect for Buddhist Texts.
Buddhism: A Brief Introduction
Buddhist texts: Sutra Texts
Explanation of Buddhist texts: Sutras with Commentaries
Talks on Buddhism: Dharma Talks
Talks, chanting, and Buddhist songs: Audio
Talks and slideshows: Video
Buddhism and other topics: Other