Buddhism Today

As its name indicates, this home page Buddhism Today focuses on two main themes:

-- to study and introduce Buddhism as the original teachings of the Buddha as well as Buddhist doctrines after the Parinibbaana of the Buddha, and

-- to introduce the application or experience of applying the Buddhadhamma in our daily life, especially in the context of today's conditions. Buddhism Today, however, centers around Theravaada Buddhism, rather than any other forms of Buddhism.

In order to serve the first objective, Buddhism Today carries the studies in the Historical Buddha and his authentic teachings, in parallel with doctrines developed later in Buddhist history. The concept "Buddhism" here does not merely denote the Buddha's teachings, as presented in the Pali Tipi.taka, but also cover the teachings of different schools of thought in Buddhism as well. The later came into existence as a result from various approaches, interpretations and applications of the very original teachings of the Buddha, in various contexts of interaction with different cultures and regional religions, during the time Buddhism was introduced and expanded. The original teachings of the Buddha consist of the four noble truths (cattaari ariya-saccaani), the principle of dependent origination (pa.ticca samuppaada), the law of moral responsibility (kamma), three principle signs (tilakkha.na) of all phenomena: impermanence (anicca), unsubstantiality (anattaa) and non-satisfactoriness (dukkha), as well as the middle path (majjhimaa pa.tipadaa) as the gateway to freedom, etc. The developed and derived forms of Buddhist doctrines are, here, confined to the teachings of Sarvaastivaada and those of Mahaayaana, Zen school as well as Pure Land Buddhism, much developed in China, Japan, Korea and Vietnam.

In order to perform the second function, Buddhism Today provides information, studies, real life practice and guidelines by senior Bhikkhus, Bhikkhunis and scholars through the world. All these hopefully would assist you in your daily spiritual practice for a fruitful outcome. In addition to this, Buddhism Today also tries to utilize research methodology in modern sciences, to interpret and communicate the Buddha's teachings. This, in our belief, could meet with the multiple needs of Buddhists in this scientific age, with changes and developments in our society at increasing speeds.

On the basis of these two objectives, Buddhism Today would upload to its site only research articles or practical writings mainly pertaining to the teachings of the Buddha as well as its application to our daily life. Buddhism Today will serve as the "bridge" between learning and practicing Buddhism for the Buddhist communities worldwide, without any discrimination on the basis of races or social status, Buddhist or non-Buddhist, and gender. The motivation and objectives of Buddhism Today are to make its honest and practical contribution to assist you in studying and practicing the teachings of the Buddha and of his noble disciples (saavakas), either Arahant or Bodhisattva.