HOW TO BECOME BUDDHA

Here's a little summary taken from one of the new Google Gadgets I just 'bombed' my Google home page with. A lot of neat stuff to check out and weed through. Anyway, I forgot to get the site name so will post it later but it is a sect of Buddhism that utilizes mantra/prayer to enlightenment, if I understand correctly. Here it is summarizing the common elements for all sects:

How to reach Enlightenment in this lifetime

Many sects and traditions will have different practices to complement the Eightfold Noble Path laid out by Shakyamuni Buddha, but all have these as their basis:

The Eightfold Noble Path.

Right Views - the four noble truths,
Right Thoughts,
Right Speech,
Right Conduct,
Right Livelihood,
Right Effort,
Right Mindfulness,
Right Concentration.



The Eightfold Noble Path - details:

Right Views: i.e., Knowledge of the Four Noble Truths:
The world is full of suffering and stress.
The cause of this suffering and stress is desires of physical instincts.
If desire can be removed, and suffering and stress will be ended.
Desire can be removed by following the Eightfold Noble Path:

Right Thoughts: Aspire to attain realization of Nirvana, i.e., perfect wisdom, the ultimate true permanent reality.

Right Speech: Abstain from all lying, falsehoods, evil, abusive and frivolous speech.

Right Conduct: Keep the Five Precepts:
abstain from taking life,
abstain from taking that which is not given,
abstain from misconduct done in lust,
abstain from lying,
abstain from all forms of intoxication.

Right Livelihood: Abstain from all evil living and all manner of ill-gotten gain or means of livelihood.

Right Effort:
abstain from all evil states of mind;
foster and maintain virtuous states of mind;
compassion,
pity,
sympathy,
calmness and
tranquility

Right Mindfulness: Regard everything as being impermanent, ill and corrupt: ie. all:
feelings,
perceptions,
inclinations,
consciousness,
thoughts,
mental states,
mental images and
mental activities.

Right Concentration:
Foster dispassion, detachment, and revulsion for the things of the world as being
decaying and impermanent.
Practice aloofness from evil states of mind, from the senses and all sensations.
Practice dwelling in solitude and seclusion, meditating and reflecting with
singleness of mind.

The Four Noble Truths:

The world is full of suffering and stress.
The cause of this suffering and stress is desires of physical instincts.
If desire can be removed, suffering and stress will be ended.
Desire can be removed by following the Eightfold Noble Path.