Buddhism / Core Beliefs

What are the core beliefs of a Buddhist? (Buddhism from first principles)

Essential route

See Access to Insight's article on “Path to Freedom”

  1. Giving - not just to Buddha and Buddhists but all people and all creatures, things like food, medicine, care…
  2. Virtue - abstaining from bad behaviors
  3. Heaven - the result of giving and virtue
  4. Drawbacks - why nirvana is better than heaven
  5. Letting go - how to change your behaviors here and now
  6. Four noble truths - the essential teaching of Buddha on suffering, its causes, and its defeat