Today I start my journey on this intriguing and great path called Budismo. I would not know how to define it: is it a philosophy or a religion?
I rather lean towards the first option. In any case, it is a spiritual lifestyle that seems to me to bring great spiritual benefits that are transformed into a higher quality of life. I invite you to travel this path with me.
Who was Buddha?
Siddhartha Gautama, Buddha, was a boy belonging to the Indian aristocracy who lived surrounded by luxury and comfort. However, his unhappiness was increasing as time passed and he searched for something deeper that could satisfy his soul.
One day he took a cup (to beg) and went out into the street. India at that time was very rich spiritually. There were many spiritual teachers and philosophical schools who wondered about the most essential things in existence. This time is known as the Axial Age.
Siddhartha began an ascetic life to the point of not eating to try to find the truth of existence. However, he realized that mistreating the body was not the best way to achieve such a degree of knowledge and awareness of things.
He gave his mind and heart to meditation. One full moon night he sat under a fig tree and vowed he would not get up until he found what he was looking for. The night passed and when the first morning star rose Siddhartha reached "awakening" (Nirvana). This awakening is made up of three interrelated aspects:
1) Absolute awareness of everything that surrounds. There is no duality between subject and object. Things are known as they really are.
2) A compassion and love that overflows the human being. That love includes all the things that make up this existence.
3) An inexhaustible mental energy. Creativity and spontaneity are continuous.
I leave you a video that summarizes very well who Buddha was and the essential characteristics of what he founded: