Buddhism very simply put is a religion that encompasses a variety of different beliefs and spiritual beliefs, passed down from the teachings of Gautama Buddha. Of these teachings, there exist two major branches of Buddhism that scholars recognize: Theravada and Mahayana. Buddhist schools are different from each other in the form where they practice their path to liberation as well as their importance placed on the various teachings and scriptures from the practices.
Theravada is a teaching in Buddhism that focuses on attaining the state of Nirvana. This is achieved by practicing the Noble Eightfold Path or the Middle Way, a balance between being attached to the world and one where you’re not. It is only through Nirvana that one can escape from the cycle of suffering and constant rebirth. Mahayana, on the other hand, aims to help one acquire Buddhahood through the path of the bodhisattva. A person practicing Mahayana would remain in the cycle of rebirth and help others achieve awakening in their life.
The main concept of Buddhism revolves around Dukkha and forms part of the Four Noble Truths doctrine. As the First Noble Truth states, one may experience suffering in the form of old age, illness, death and many other forms of suffering. Buddha stated that with each life, one would experience much suffering and the only way of avoiding or at least decreasing the suffering is the idea of Karma. Karma works very much like a reserve, storing good deeds for the betterment of your future while bad deeds will negatively affect you in the future, bringing you more suffering. Meanwhile, the Second Noble Truth states that suffering is linked to desire in humans and that desire will only lead one down the path of aging, illness, and mortality. It is also because of desire that one will always long for objects that are not attainable, leading to further suffering. With that being said, the Third Truth which is more straightforward, states that suffering can be easily dispelled through the giving up of all desires in life. Finally, the Noble Truth revealed that giving up of desires can be easily accomplished by following the Noble Eightfold Path.
Noble Eightfold Path
As previously stated, the Noble Eightfold are set factors and conditions that would lead to the path of liberation from Dukkha (rebirth and suffering). Grouped into three separate groups - Wisdom, Moral virtues, and Meditation, the first group of wisdom holds two important factors: Having the right view and the right intention. Meanwhile, Moral virtues boast of having the right speech, rich action, and right livelihood. Finally, meditation expands on having the right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration. Through these Eightfold Paths, one would be able to cease their cravings and karmic accumulations, in turn, achieving Nirvana.
Through these main concepts, Siddhartha Gautama has succeeded in providing an excellent basis for living live humbly and through positive values, ultimately leading to a religion that has remained to be one of the longest standing in the world.