So how was Saddhartha's enlightment defined? It has been defined into what is known as the "Four Great Truths." ... The Shinto looked entirely to the external world, one without icons, whereas Buddhism brought to the Japanese culture the words for compassion, wisdom, mercy, and kindness. ...
The Buddhist Annual of Ceylon defines Buddhism as "that religion which without starting with a God leads man to a stage where God's help is not necessary." ... Even though their background and certain beliefs differ, each seem to embody the same principles when teaching about ethical behavior, discipleship, compassion and materialism....
A position on war taken by the Buddha is as follows, "In times of war/Give rise in yourself to the mind of compassion/Helping living beings/Abandon the will to fight.... The next quote from Lao-Tzu defines the religions view on war, "Weapons, however beautiful, are instruments of ill omen, hateful to all creatures. ...
Ahimsa, the law of non-injury, is the Hindu's first duty in fulfilling religious obligations to God and God's creation as defined by Upanishadic scripture. ... Several centuries after his death, it was taught that to encourage mercy and compassion in ones self, all Buddhist should avoid eating meat (6). ...
