Buddhist life in North Alabama
Buddhism began about 2,500 years ago in India with Siddhartha Gautama, known as the Buddha, the awakened one. Today Buddhists in North Alabama include families from Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, China, Japan and Sri Lanka as well as many Americans who have found the path through meditation. They gather in temples, meditation centers and study groups across the Tennessee Valley.
The heart of the teaching
The Buddha taught the Four Noble Truths: that life involves suffering, that suffering has causes, that it can end, and that the Eightfold Path leads to its end. Buddhists cultivate wisdom, ethical conduct, mindfulness and compassion for all beings, and they see all things as impermanent and interdependent. Major traditions include Theravada, Mahayana, Vajrayana and Zen, along with Pure Land and others.
Practice and community
Practice includes meditation, chanting, taking the precepts, offering incense, flowers and food, and listening to dharma talks. The sangha, the community of monks, nuns and lay practitioners, supports one another on the path. Temples often serve as cultural homes for immigrant families, with language classes and festivals, while meditation centers welcome newcomers of every background.
Festivals and observances
Vesak, or Buddha Day, celebrates the birth, awakening and passing of the Buddha. Others include Asalha Puja, Obon, Bodhi Day and the Lunar New Year.
Visiting a temple or center
Visitors are welcome. Remove your shoes, dress modestly, speak softly and avoid pointing your feet at statues of the Buddha. Many centers offer beginner meditation sessions and no experience is needed.