What Buddhists Believe by Dr. K. Sri Dhammananda presents Buddhism as a rational and practical path to end suffering, founded by Gautama Buddha, a human teacher who achieved enlightenment through his own efforts. The core of his message lies in the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path, a 'Middle Way' that cultivates morality, mental discipline through meditation, and wisdom. Central doctrines include Karma, the natural law of cause and effect, and rebirth, which occurs without a permanent soul (Anatta). Rejecting blind faith and a creator god, Buddhism emphasises self-reliance, urging followers to verify truths for themselves and take personal responsibility for their salvation. The ultimate goal is Nirvana, a state of supreme peace and the cessation of all suffering, attainable not through prayer or rituals, but through the purification of one's own mind and the development of compassion and understanding for all beings.
