Theravada Buddhism is the religion of virtually all of the
ethnic Khmers, who constitute about 90% or more of the Cambodian population. Buddhism
originated in what are now north India
and Nepal
during the sixth century B.C. Theravada Buddhism is a tolerant, non-prescriptive
religion that does not require belief in a supreme being.
Its precepts require that each individual take each
individual take full responsibility for his own actions and omissions.
Buddha
Buddhism is based on three concepts: dharma (the doctrine of
the Buddha, his guide to right actions and belief); karma (the belief that one's
life now and in future lives depends upon one's own deeds and misdeeds and that
as an individual one is responsible for, and rewarded on the basis of, the sum
total of one's acts and act's incarnations past and present); and sangha, the
ascetic community within which man can improve his karma. The Buddhist
salvation is nirvana, a final extinction of one's self. Nirvana may be attained
by achieving good karma through earning much merit and avoiding misdeeds.
A Buddhist's pilgrimage through existence is a constant
attempt to distance himself or herself from the world and finally to achieve
complete detachment, or nirvana. The fundamentals of Buddhist doctrine are the
Four Noble Truths: suffering exits; craving (or desire) is the cause of
suffering; release from suffering can be achieved by stopping all desire; and
enlightenment
Buddha hood – can be attained by following the Noble
Eightfold Path (right views, right intention, right speech, right action, right
livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration), which
constitutes a middle way between sensuality and ascetism. Enlightenment
consists of knowing these truths. The average layperson cannot hope for nirvana
after the end of this life, but can by complying, as best he or she is able to,
with the doctrine's rules of moral conduct-hope to improve his or her karma and
thereby better his condition in the next incarnation.
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