Before anyone decides to accept and practise the teachings of the Buddha, it is advisable to consider the following: This human life is a precious opportunity to realise my potential - compassion and wisdom - for the benefit of all sentient beings. Everything that forms must also pass, including my own life, only the timing is uncertain. Thoughts, words and deeds (karma) create effects, the unwholesome / wholesome leads to the unwholesome / wholesome. Samsara, the world of interdependent arising, is not a friendly place: impermanent, imperfect and without ultimate substance, there is nothing to hold on to.

For all those who would like to learn more about the following topics:

• The historically established facts about Siddharta Gautama
• His awakening in legend and religious tradition
• Buddha's teaching and Parinirvana

For all those who would like to learn more about the following topics:

• The basic teachings: Four Noble Truths, Eightfold Path, interdependent arising
• Councils, written records and commentaries
• Sutra (teachings), Tantra (practices), Upadesha (view)

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Different historical developments of the Buddha teachings as well as the traditional texts and doctrines are examined:

• Theravada (School of the Elders) advises a path of renunciation
• Mahayana (Great Vehicle) emphasises cultivating undconditional love and compassion
• Vajrayana is called the "fast", or the Diamond Vehicle

In the world view of Buddhism, nuns, monks, laymen and laywomen all have the same prerequisites for awakening, i.e. for attaining Buddhahood.
In the different cultures of Asia, this led to conflicts with the prevailing patriarchal power structures.
In the India of Buddha's time, women had a very low status, yet Buddha accepted them into his community as equals, a great undertaking at the time.

The words of the Buddha: Wholesome follows wholesome, unwholesome follows unwholesomeCauses and conditions that we are unable to influence provide the background of our life. Our actions result in positive as well as negative effects.

It is our own responsibility how much or how little suffering we experience in this life.

All sentient beings have the potential for awakening.  The experience of awakening (bodhi) frees you from all confusion.
Buddha, the 'Awakened One', remained and taught in this state of buddhahood and touched many of his contemporaries by his unconditional love.

Bhavana is Buddha's call to cultivate the mind.

This is done on three levels: first the observance of ethical principles (sila), followed by persistent meditative practice (samadhi), and culminating in the unintentional appearance of primordial wisdom (prajna).

Through this threefold practice, we accustom ourselves to a wholesome way of life.