Buddhism is a religion which teaches that the way to end suffering is by overcoming desires. As in 2010,there are around four-hundred eighty-eight million Buddhists. Although most Buddhists are concentrated in East Asia, people living in Africa, Europe, North America, and South America also practice Buddhism.
Buddhism began with a man named Shakyamuni, also known as the Buddha, who was born between 563 BCE to 483 BCE in Nepal. In Buddhist history, Shakyamuni was born into a royal clan, but he abandoned his royal power and wealth in pursuit of truth and enlightenment.
The life transforming experience for the young Shakyamuni was his encounters with human suffering, disease, and death that occurred on a sojourn. At age twenty-nine, Shakyamuni renounced his royal heritage and set out on a quest for truth and enlightenment which he attained at age thirty-seven after intense meditation at Bodhgaya, a village in North India. After reaching enlightment, Shakyamuni went a journey to teach others for nearly forty years. Shakyamuni's teaching, or dharma, of the human behavior and clear guidance in achieving release from suffering spread all across northern India. The teachings were especially effective because it provided an alternative to the rigid social and ritual structures in north India at that time.
The earliest available teachings of the Buddha are found in Pali literature and belongs to the School of the Theravadins, or which many called orthodox school of Buddhism. The teaching of the Buddha according to this school is plain which revolves around the idea to "abstain from all kinds of evil, to accumulate all that is good and to purify our mind."
The most basic teachings of Buddha are known as "Four Noble Truths" which include: The normal condition of this world is misery or suffering. Suffering stirs from desire or attachment to this world that is in its essence impermanent. The end of suffering can be attained by ending attachment to this world. Ending attachment can be done by following the eightfold path of right views, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration.
Buddhism was beneficial to many countries' society. For example, Buddhism offered a better life to the untouchables, outcasts who did not have any social status, in India because it taught that all people, whether nobles or untouchables, are equal and should help and love each other as brothers.
Buddhism was especially to Japan's society and politics.
Buddhism is one of the prominent and influential religions and philosophies of the world. A basic tenet of Buddhism is that worldly desires and possessions cause all suffering. To absolve one’s self of necessities beyond basic human survival is one of the many plateaus that Buddhists strive to achieve. Furthermore, Buddhists free themselves from temptation via seclusion from society and attempt to allow nature to support them. They believe that Nirvana, the ascension to heaven, can be achieved by freeing oneself of earthly desires.
A man of noble birth, living in the time before the Common Era, preached a way to extinguish the fire of self-centered delusion. This state of Nirvana can be achieved by understanding The Four Noble Truths, suffering in life, he explains can be avoided by following an Eightfold Path. Sounds simple? This must have been an awaking for people of his time seeking a more personal religion, away from the rigidities of a priest-dominated Hinduism of India. The man, the Buddha, spent the rest of his life teaching the religion he discovered and its doctrine based upon his Dharma (cosmic law and order). The first written evidence of the existence of Buddhism is found over 400 years ago after the life of the Buddha. (Kozak) Historians pose the
Buddhism is one of the largest religions in the world with an estimated 500 million located in all corners of the globe. Although Buddhism is practiced all around the world, the majority of Buddhists are centered in the Eastern, Southern and Central parts of Asia. It was founded in India in approximately 525 B.C. by Siddhartha Gautama, known to his followers as Buddha. Buddhism is divided into two main schools: the Theravada in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia, and the Mahayana in China, Mongolia, Korea, and Japan.
Buddhism is a nontheistic religion based on the teachings and life of Buddha Shakyamuni, who is known as the enlightened one. Buddhism emphasizes peace, loving kindness, and wisdom. Shakyamuni’s teachings deal with the ability to remove suffering and other delusions from the mind by ultimately reaching enlightenment and nirvana. The purpose of Buddhism is to remove the mind of its faults and limitations. The ultimate goal of Buddhism is a life without...
Buddhism is one of the oldest religions in the world, which began in India. The origin of Buddhism is traced back to the experience of single man, Siddhartha Gautama, later known as the Buddha. Born around 563 B.C.E., legend follows that Siddhartha was the son of a prince in a kingdom near the border of what is now India and Nepal. As such, he was sheltered from the world and lived a life of luxury and comfort. (Molloy 124) However, at age 29 Siddhartha left the royal grounds and witnessed the suffering of ordinary life for the first time. What he saw deeply affected him and caused him to question everything in his materialistic life. Siddhartha made the decision to give up his possessions and embark on a search for enlightenment, an event known as the Great Going Forth. (Molloy 125)
What is Buddhism? Many say that Buddhism is an offspring of Hinduism. However, Buddhism formed in the 5th century BCE is a religion that originated from Northern India, its uniqueness comes from Buddha also Siddhartha Gautama (563- 483 BCE). Some of his teachings included: The Four Noble Truths, The way of Inquiry and the Illusion of the Soul. It consists of three branches: The Theravada, Mahayana, and The Vajrayana.
Buddhism is a religion and way of life for hundreds of millions of people. It uses the teachings of the Buddha, or great teacher to guide them on their way to obtain the ultimate goal of Nirvana. The Buddha was not concerned with worshiping a deity or speculating about things that will never know. Instead Buddhism is built on truths we can ascertain through our own insights into the world. The solution for humans is knowledge, of the Four Nobel Truths and the Eightfold path. Through meditation people can overcome suffering by removing wrong perceptions about life.
Buddhism was created in early Indian civilization. Development of the religion began with the death of their founder. The Buddhist community established their standard cannon and their common goal which was, to bring enlightenment to the world. (Robinson and Johnson, 3) Buddhism spread rapidly and as with all other major religions when it begins to spread it breaks up into sects. Buddhism divided into two sects Hinayana and Mahayana. The Hinayanas settled in greater India and followed the earlier traditions. The Mahayanas traveled throughout India and Asia. The most dense areas of Buddhist populations are within central and east Asia.
Buddhism is a philosophy of life, it was started by Siddhartha Gotma , who is more commonly known as Buddha. Buddha isn’t god to them however he is well respected for passing down knowledge of how to find true happiness. The Buddhists major aim in life is to find enlightenment (true happiness).Buddhist monks live by a strict moral code, in which they are given food, they live a life structured around the teachings of Buddha.
Buddhism is one of the most popular religions in the world, it originates in Nepal, where the “enlightened one” Saddartha Gotama was born. The word Buddhism originates from the word “Buddhi” meaning to awaken. Buddhism is a nontheistic religion, meaning that they do not have any gods in their faith. Buddha is seen as one of the enlightened ones, rather than a God. One interesting fact about Buddhism, Saddartha Gotama acknowledges Jesus Christ as a very good man and a prophet, however does not acknowledge him as the Messiah.
The founder of Buddhism was a man called Siddhartha Gautama, born to a wealthy family and destined for greatness; Siddhartha, however, left his family and the palace in search for religious truth and an end to suffering. Siddhartha tried many ways of reaching an enlightened stage; wandering the forest, joining the beggars, fasting, debating with religious leaders, but when none of these methods brought him a greater understanding of the world, Siddhartha sat himself down under a fig tree, and meditated. After forty-nine days of meditation Siddhartha was said to have achieved an understanding of the cause of suffering, he then became known as the Buddha, enlightened one.
Buddhism prevailed as a religion indigenous to west India and comprises of varieties of traditions, beliefs and practices based on the teachings of Buddha. There are many reasons why Buddhism became so popular and entered into many civilizations. Buddhism began to be popular throughout Asia alongside India. Buddhism has blossomed in the contemporary world, especially in the West. It is an issue to wonder what Buddhism offers that other religions cannot and has become so significant worldwide. Buddhism has become an idea that is widespread and the teachings of Buddha have made a real difference in many civilizations like India, China, Japan, Vietnam, Korea and surprisingly Buddhism has come to make a significant difference in American culture.
Buddhism was founded by or Siddhartha Gautama also known as “Buddha” was born about 2565 years ago in what is now part of Nepal. A contemporary of Mahavira and came from the same warrior social class, born the son of a chief of one of the tribes in the Himalaya (McKay, 2012). At the age twenty-nine, he became unsatisfied with his life of comfort, he left home to become a wandering ascetic. He traveled south to the kingdom of Magadha, where he studied with yoga masters (McKay, 2012).
Buddhism originated from India, and was founded by Prince Siddharta Gautama, who later came to be known as Buddha, or the enlightened one. Born of a princely caste, he later renounced his comfortable life in search for nirvana. In order to do that, he joined a band of ascetic, who was a group of Hindu priests. In his teaching, the Buddha taught his followers to follow "the middle way", that is, not the way of extreme asceticism. He attained full understanding of the nature of being by meditation and after his success, decided to impart his knowledge to those who follow him .
Buddhism is unlike any other religion I learned about throughout my time in this class. There is no god in Buddhism and Buddhist do not worship any supernatural being. Buddhism is based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama. His teachings, the Dharma, are a guide to follow to reach ultimate liberation. Understanding the four noble truths and following the noble eightfold path would lead to nirvana. As with any religion there are a few different types of Buddhism such as Theravada, Mahayana, and modern day Buddhist. Starting in Asia, Buddhism has spread to the west and all over the world. I hope to convey my thoughts on Buddhism’s past, present and future.