.Buddhism formed in India about a thousand years before it was introduced to Japan. After that, though, it was a faith only accepted by the upper class, because they appreciated the colorful Buddhist ceremonies and the works of Buddhist artists. The life goal of Buddhism is Nirvana. Toward that end, Buddhism’s teachings are summed up in the Four Noble Truths. The first is the Truth of suffering. It states that suffering, or duhkha, is the central fact of life. Being born is painful, growing old is painful, sickness is painful, and death is painful. The second is the Truth of the Origin of Suffering (Samudaya). It states that the cause of suffering is the desire, or the iccha; craving, or the tanha; or thirst, tishna; for sensual pleasures or material possesions and power. This craving is what makes you also desire rebirth, or samsara. The third Truth is the truth of Cessation of Suffering, or nirodha. It states that suffering can be brought to an end only by the complete cessation of desires, or the forsaking, relinquishing, and detaching oneself from desire and craving. The fourth, and last Truth is the Truth of the Path to Ending Suffering, or marga. It states that the means to the end of suffering is the Nobel Eightfold Path, or the arya ashtanga marga. The Nobel Eightfold Path are eight ways to end suffering. These are: right belief, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right meditation. According to Buddhism, these are the ways to get to Nirvana, the life goal. The Pure Land sect of Buddhism is a very different kind of Buddhism. In this sect, you attain salvation just by having faith in Buddha. This belief had been accepted by many Buddhists, not only in Japan, but also in China and India. The true land priests, unlike normal Buddhists priests were allowed to marry, and becuase of this, becoming a preist became very popular. Another important par...
