I painted this 1 year ago, on this very day called Wesak - sometimes informally called “Buddha’s birthday,” it actually encompasses the birth, enlightenment Nirvana, and passing (Parinirvana) of Gautama Buddha. Today, I want to share with you non-Buddhists and Buddhists alike, some general but essential knowledge of Buddhism.
The Misconception of Buddhism
My first impression of Buddhism was back when I was still a kid in Toa Payoh, growing up at my grandparent’s HDB flat, where there’s this altar right in the middle of the house. On it, were various statues and food offerings, little flames burning on candles, joss sticks etc. I was 4, and it was super-duper creepy. I didn’t know what they were praying to, and sometimes I’d walk closer and inspect the whole setup, studying the statues’ facial expressions. No their eyes didn’t blink or anything like that 
But I still felt.. uncomfortable. I quickly ran into the room and popped-in an episode of Ultraman. Amen!
As I grew up, I slowly realised that almost every Chinese house has a strikingly familiar altar. It was only a few years back that I started reading up on Buddhism and realised that most altars with statues actually belonged to the practice of “ancestral worship”, and not Buddhism. Many Chinese families also practice Taoism, which differs from Buddhism and often feature statues of Guan Yin and Guan Yu.
And to top it off, my grandfather’s funeral procession involved a monk-like fella chanting loudly and clanking his cymbals. This was proceeded by the burning of paper money, house, car, maids etc.
To non-Asians, non-Buddhists (and ironically, many Buddhists too) - all the above are often perceived to be part of Buddhism practice, which they are not.
Introduction
Now let’s begin. Where quoted, I have picked out points written by Bikkhu Kantipalo in his book - Buddhism Explained.
“Men are still the same at heart, and though they have managed to change their environment, they have not changed at all psychologically. So when Buddhism is well explained, one gets to know about oneself - one’s mind and body - and what can be done with it. The disasters of not knowing about oneself are to be seen all around us: wars, crime, quarrels, greed, envy and stupidity. Everyone can do some work upon themselves with great advantage - both to themselves and to other people. If one wishes to see this world a better place than it is now, then there is only one place to start work.”
Many people then perceive Buddhism to be a selfish practice as it mainly focuses on improving oneself. The fact is, one must equip oneself before he or she is capable of helping another. The more one has acquired one’s skills, the more one can give to others. And even better, help others acquire these skills. Which is what Buddha has done. By emulating what is good, we become good.
What is Buddhism?
Buddhism is NOT a set of teachings to believe.
Bhuddism is the experience of discovering Dhamma.
Dhamma is the TRUTH within us.
DHAMMA
“Complications do not exist in Dhamma. The complications which exist in men’s religious belief are the result of complications or defilements in their own hearts. If one finds Dhamma difficult to understand or practice, then it is because of the difficulties which are found in oneself.
Dhamma is simple and straightforward. It is men who are neither. However, Dhamma is simple but not easy. Effort is needed. While Dhamma is devoid of all artifice, pretense and speculation, many people like these things. Those who are looking for philosophical speculation, and those who are attracted to belief in dogmas, will not find what they search for in Dhamma.”
Dhamma = “that which supports (the truth)”.
A Buddhist is free (and encouraged) to question any part of Lord Buddha’s Dhamma. There is nothing forbidden to question and no teaching to be believed blindly.
Faith in Buddhism is combined with wisdom. Buddhism = Faith + Wisdom.
Your wisdom lets you perceive the truth, while your faith lets you accept teachings yet unproved. But one who has seen the Dhamma-truth in oneself, being rid of all mental defilements and troubles, HAS NO FAITH, he has something better - adamantine WISDOM.
There are 3 main benefits of practising Dhamma:
1. Here and now - immediate help for living to become easier, problems lighter, while happiness increases 
2. The future - it may be tomorrow, later in this life or in other lives, but it is sure that ‘doing good brings good’ (Kamma).
3. Supermundane benefit - the highest happiness and the sublime peace called Nirvana.
All of these benefits may be seen by oneself in this life if one has put these teachings to good use.
Dhamma as Method, Not Doctrine
“This is the main distinction between Dhamma and other religions. The latter have taught doctrines, creeds and dogmas which are not immediately open to proof (or indeed supposed to be proved) but have to be accepted with faith. Lord Buddha taught methods which one might apply to one’s own life and speedily come to see the benefits of their practice here and now.”
There is No Idol-Worship in Buddhism
“The figure of Lord Buddha in temples represents to Buddhists some of the qualities of their Teacher and Teaching; it inspires them to recollect those same qualities and so develop them within themselves. The Buddha-figure is also a great aid in mediation and may be used to calm the mind at the time of death.
The Buddha is not a god of any sort. There is no prayer in Buddhist temple. People do not pray to a Teacher who attained Final Nirvana over 2,500 years ago; they venerate and respect Him. The prayer which asks benefits for oneself is quite foreign to Buddhist thought, aiming at realising no-self.”
Offerings Made
Lights, incense, flowers.
“When lighting the candle or lamp one reflects: ‘Oh, may I become Enlightened so that I am able to help enlighten others.’
From that flame, the incense sticks (usually 3 in number), are lighted with the thought: ‘In order to achieve that Enlightenment may the fragrance of my virtue pervade all my actions of body, speech and mind, as this sweet incense spread to all directions.’
Then flowers are offered between joined palms thinking: ‘But this life is short and even though these flowers are fresh and beautiful today, tomorrow they will be faded and evil-smelling - so it is with what I call my body.’
