Image a world filled with compassion, nonviolence, no wars or fighting, no discrimination, mindfulness and wisdom. A world like this is a Buddhist dream. Buddhism was first introduced by Siddhartha Gautama, or commonly referred to as The Buddha (Detrick, Part 1-Slide 2). The Buddha was born a Hindu prince, and left all he had to search for the way to total liberation from suffering. After reaching enlightenment, Buddha began practicing a “Middle Way that rejected both self-indulgence and self-denial” (Fisher, Living 140). Two important teachings by Buddha included The Four Nobel Truths and The Nobel Eightfold Path to liberation which guide Buddhist on how to live. Buddhism has two main division of thought: Theravada: path of mindfulness and …show more content…
In Jōdo Shinshū or Shin Buddhism in Japan there is a local custom where the small temples are passed from father to son (Starling, 147). This custom allows families to draw closer to each other through Buddhism because the father and other family members need to teach the son about temple life in order for him to become the priest eventually. Ryūichi, a man in line for his family’s temple in Japan, describes running a temple “like team baseball”. When Ryūichi’s grandfather started to fall ill, his father volunteered for ordination and his mother also took a simple ordination to help with daily temple work, and now Ryūichi also comes to the temple to help with rituals (Starling, 150). In addition, Ryūichi’s wife also became ordained to fully emerge in the role of a temple wife, and maybe even serve as a backup priest (Starling 150). Overall, there are many people in the family involved with helping run a temple and living out the Buddhism life-style. With the whole family focusing on running a temple they can come together and lean on each other for help and guidance which can improve family life. Not only does Buddhism greatly improve family life, it can also improve the lives of people in state and national …show more content…
One global community that greatly appreciates the rise of global Buddhism is women. In other religions women are essentially forbidden to engage in religion, but The Buddha allowed women to study and practice with him (Detrick, Part 2-Slide 26). Not only in religion but also in society, many Western nations allow women to participate and that is why, “…many Buddhist centers in the West are led by women…” (Fisher, Living 178). Western and Asian women Buddhist have come together to fight for the role of women becoming more enhanced in their religion (Fisher, Living 180). One organization, “Sakyadhita (Daughters of the Buddha), the International Association of Buddhist Women, is working to improve conditions for women’s Buddhist education, practice, ordination, and training as teachers of Buddhism” (Fisher, Living 180). This shift in women involvement would not have happened in global communities if the Western nations were not advanced ahead of the East in gender equality. Buddhism has also impacted the way Westerners go about their daily life. Daily life in a Western country is very fast past and controlled heavily by the materialistic world. Therefore, many Western have adapted Buddhism as a way to enhance their peace of mind and find relaxation (Fisher, Living 179). By adapting the Buddhist
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.
Buddhism is considered as one of the leading religions throughout the world today. In order for a Buddhist to follow the religion, there are certain set of guidelines that one has to follow to gain a better life, but most people have other factors that they have to face along this path. The story, “The Journey of One Buddhist Nun” by Sid Brown, is an account of a Thai woman, Maechi Wabi, who entered a spiritual life along with life struggles and outside influences. According to Brown, Wabi faced many challenges along the way to liberation and two challenges she faced most are the gender and socioeconomic issues which she overcame during her spiritual journey.
Buddhism is a religion from the East that has spread to many different countries all over the world. It has spread to the West, and has had a great influence and impact, especially in America. However, the Buddhism that is practiced in the United States is not exactly the same as the one that is practiced in Asian countries. If Buddhism differs between the different traditions of the Asian countries themselves, it is obvious that it will differ greatly in America as well. However, even though there are obvious differences, it is important to maintain the core values and fundamental principles the same. This research explores how the three different types of Buddhist practitioners have adopted Buddhism in America, and it describes some differences
Q2. Outline and discuss the four noble truths: is the Buddhist view of existence optimistic or pessimistic?
The founder of Buddhism was a man named Siddharta Gautama. He was born as a prince of a small kingdom located near today’s Nepal, around 500 B.C.E. (Gurinder 1). According to the legends, Siddharta was raised in the lap of luxury. He was given the finest clothes, riches, and a mansion for every season (Fisher 136). Despite having anything his imagination could conjure, he was unconvinced of their value (136). As the story continues, he was presented with the four sights that were being kept from him (136). These sights included death, sickness, old age, and a monk seeking lasting happiness rather than material possessions (136). After these sights, Sidhharta began his long path to enlightenment. After six years of searching, he had reached his goal of an ultimate consciousness called Nirvana, or enlightenment that is above ordinary human states of mind (Gurinder, Numrich, Williams 1-2). After his discovery of the ultimate consciousness, he was given the title of Buhhda, which means “Enlighten One” (2).
Dukkha is the first of the four noble truths of Buddhism. The word means suffering, but just
Buddhism’s approach to ethics and practices are centred upon the principal beliefs of; the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path and the Five Precepts. By adhering to these guidelines, Buddhists are ensured that they are taking a step closer to escaping Samsara, and attaining the revered state of Nirvana,
Compare And Analysis The Japanese Buddhism And Indo Buddhism Buddhism is a religion and philosophy founded by Siddhartha Gautama in northeast India during the period from the late 6th century to the early 4th century BC. Spreading from India to Central and Southeast Asia, China, Korea, and Japan, Buddhism has played an influential role in the spiritual, cultural, and social life of much of the Eastern world. It is the prevailing religious force in most of Asia (India, China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and Tibet). ‘Buddhism’ is reformulated and re-expressed in different cultures and at different times, adopting and redefining aspects of the cultures in which it has taken root. Today, there are about 300 million followers. (Yamplosky) The Indian religion Buddhism, founded in the sixth century BC, is one of the common features of Asian civilization, and Buddhist institutions and believers are found all over East, South, and Southeast Asia. While Buddhism is now just a minority belief in the country of it’s founding, it remains a significant religious and cultural force in Japan today. Buddhism started in India and made its way to China and Korea. From there, it ended up in Japan. Buddhism went through several different periods before it became Japan's national religion. In indo Buddhism, the temple is the main sanctuary, in which services, both public and private, are performed but Japanese Buddhism is mainly hub of individual activities and services. Similarly to Japanese Buddhism, in Indo Buddhism the monastery is a complex of buildings, located usually in a spot chosen for its beauty and seclusion. Its function is to house the activities of the monks. Images are important features of temples, monasteries, and shrines in both Indo a...
Buddhists focus on what an individual can do morally in order to achieve nirvana. “Buddhists believe that individuals can overcome the misery in the world and reach their own Buddha status by a process of mental and moral purification. Morality also asks how one determines right from wrong and this is illustrated in the religion of Buddhism by the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path. There are two paths that a man who has given up the world must not take; the practice of attachment and the practice of asceticism. However, there is a middle path which opens eyes, bestows understanding, leads to peace of mind, higher wisdom, to full enlightenment, and to nirvana; the Noble Eightfold Path.
Buddhism is currently the fourth most popular religion in our society today, following Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism. Its major ideologies are based on the philosophies of Siddhartha Guatama, also known as “Buddha”, who began his teachings in 598 BCE at the age of 35, according to Buddhist texts. A Buddhist’s foremost aspiration is the obtainment of Bodhi, or enlightenment through meditation and Anapana-sati (awareness of the breath). Buddhism shares many ideologies with India’s Hinduism and Yoga such as non-harming, non-violence, and self-awareness. In many instances, people regard Buddhism as a way of life rather than a religion, for it has no clear belief in the idea of a God or Gods. Its structure is built upon a hierarchy much like Christianity where superior orders such as Lamas or the Dalai Lama are said to be chosen by nature through the process of reincarnation rather than by a council like Christianity’s Pope. Though these “higher level” Buddhists are rare (not everyone is a reincarnation of an ancient Buddhist “priest”), all are permitted to follow “The Middle Way” either as a Buddhist monk or the simple attendance of a weekly teaching session from time to time. Throughout the last few hundred years the Buddhist population has blossomed into a healthy 381,611,000 and over fifteen different sects including Zen, Mahayana, and Theravada.
Being raised as a Christian I never gave a thought to any of the other religions. Before visiting or learning about Buddhism I was sure Christianity had nothing in common with Buddhism. Christians believe that the only way to heaven is through Jesus Christ, who is the son of God, and the Buddhists believe that the only way to overcome the desire of the body is through the eightfold path which is the way to Nirvana. While Buddhists believe that suffering is brought about by our desires and humanity needs to overcome that by fighting to get rid of the craving of the body. Christians believe suffering is real and the only way to overcome that is to trust in God and through forgiveness we learn how to deal with our desire. In Christianity we believe that everything happens for a reason, mostly good ones. There is no other way to get rid of our desires. We pray and trust God to get us through whatever is happening.
“In Tantric Buddhism, we are dealing with a misogynist, destructive, masculine philosophy and religion which is hostile to life – i.e. the precise opposite of that for which it is trustingly and magnanimously welcomed in the figure of the Dalai Lama.”[1] Within Tibetan Buddhism, there is an inherent contradiction regarding the status of women. Although in many aspects women are seen and treated as inferior to men, several of the ancient and fundamental values of Tibetan Buddhism, and more specifically Tantric Buddhism, emphasize equality of the sexes, universal compassion, and most importantly the significant and essential role of the woman. Tibetan Buddhist nuns have been trying to correct this contradiction for years to remove the inferior and degrading stereotype that defines them and to be seen as equal to men. Beginning with the emergence of Tibetan Buddhism from India until today, the status of women, both physically and symbolically has declined due to the patriarchal system adopted by Tibet. “The mystery of Tantric Buddhism consists in the sacrifice of the feminine principle and the manipulation of erotic love in order to attain universal androcentric power.”[2] In their patriarchal society, the symbol of the woman is used by men now as an instrument; manipulated by men in order to acquire control and power.
...ave places where they can practice and have meeting here in the US and around the world. Again, like I mentioned before, economic resources can impact the level of commitment when it comes to visiting temples and extra things like having a teacher or mentor (monk) and an actual institution or church to meditate (although people can also simply meditate at home).
230). There are two main “types” Buddhism that are practiced around the world. The first is Theravadin, and the second is Mahayana (Smith-Stoner, 2005, p. 228). Buddhism contains a “message of salvation” that considered the “Four Noble Truths” (Leming & Dickinson, 2011 p. 134). They are, the truth of suffering, the truth of the cause of suffering, the truth of the end of suffering, and the truth of the path that leads to the end of suffering. Leming and Dickinson (2011) describe how the combination of ethics and meditation are the eightfold path to enlightenment (Leming & Dickinson, 2011 p. 136). The author believes it is important for practitioners to recognize the increasing numbers of people practicing Buddhism in the United States in order to enhance their ability to care for end of life needs in this population. Smith-Stoner (2005) states that Buddhism is one of the fastest growing religions in the United States and that Colorado is one of the main population centers (Smith-Stoner, 2005, p. 229). In Buddhism, it is extremely important to be able to tame emotions and the mind which is done through meditation. The author thinks it is pertinent to know the
The Four Noble Truths of Buddhism capture ethos of the spirituality and its teachings. By just these four lessons, Buddha preaches the principles of tranquility within meditation of mere concentration. From these truths he developed a guidance referred to as the Eightfold Path, a series of principles that lead to awakening when practiced and understood. He preaches that inevitable suffering comes from desire, however he concludes with a solution to a life lived in nirvana. The first two of the Four Noble Truths are Dukha and Avidya, focusing on the primitive presence of suffering within day to day life. The other two are Nirodha and Magga, contributions to having faith that solvents for all suffering do exist and how it is accomplished. The combination of each understanding is a simple recipe to ultimate salvation, hence the contribution to development of self awareness and happiness within cultures across the map.