Buddha

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Buddha whose original name was Siddhartha Gautama, was born in India in the 4th century BC. Gautama was the founder of Buddhism, the religion and philosophical system that produced a great culture throughout much of southern and eastern Asia. Buddha, meaning "Awakened One," or "Enlightened One," is a title, not a proper name. There are various legends about his birth and upbringing (Jacobus 569-71). He married at the age of 16 and lived in luxury and comfort. The turning point in his life came when he was 29, when he realized the inevitability of old age, sickness, and death. He thus became aware of the suffering incurred by people, he resolved on "the great renunciation": to give up the princely life and search for truth. He departed leaving his wife and infant child behind (Jacobus 569-71).

The Buddha spent the rest of his life spreading his teachings, making converts to the spiritual truth and belief he expounded (Jacobus 569-71).

In Buddhism, it is said that life is eternal. After a person's life is finally over, that his or her spirit will be re-born. A review of Buddhism shows that the consistent goal is to look at ones self for enlightenment. Buddhism teaches that the individual should strive to reach Nirvana. Nirvana, simply means total peace. It is the total peace of the universe without aggression and hatred. The Buddhism religion strives for total peace and harmony for ones self and all living creatures (Jacobus 569-71).

When Buddhists look at the Bible and what is said about God they are confused. Buddhists do not pray or acknowledge God the way Christians do, this in itself is a concept that Buddhists cannot conceive. While Buddhists reject the Christian concept of God because it seems to be unsubstantiated, they also reject it because it seems so much lower than their own ideal, the Buddha. Buddhists also reject the Christian God because of the fact that the Bible is incorrect, God can not be perfect. Each is a complex religion, with the many dimensions that carry a profound difference. The greatest difference between Buddhist and Christian views are that Christians believe that man lives in a world full of conflict, which requires man to change. The Buddhist assertion is to the contrary, that our perception is distorted and life in the world should be accepted as is. Buddhists reject the Christian God, because, if the Bible is correct, God appears to be an imperfect god who is authoritative and vengeful (Jacobus 589-598).

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