Buddhism

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Buddhism

According to Webster's definition, Buddhism is not a religion. It states that

religion is the "belief in or worship of God or gods"(Webster's New World Dictionary

pg.505). "The Buddha was not a god"(About Buddhism pg.1). " There is no theology, no

worship of a deity or deification of the Buddha"(Butter pg.1) in Buddhism. Therefore

"Buddhists don't pray to a creator god"(Buddhism FAQ's pg.1). Consequently, Buddhism

is catagorized as a philosophy, but is still regarded it as a religion. "The name Buddhism

comes from the word 'budhi' which means to wake up and thus Buddhism is the

philosophy of awakening"(What is Buddhism pg.1). Fittingly, "buddha literally means

'awakened one'"( Buddhist Basics pg.1).

"Buddha are aimed soley to liberate sentient beings from suffering"(About

Buddhism pg.1). They dedicate their lives to showing others the way to end the viscous

cycle of samsara, or reincarnation. Buddha are enlightened beings who had the

opportunity to reach the ultimate goal, but turned back to help the rest of the world get to

where they were.

The ultimate goal is to attain Nirvana. "Nirvana simply means cessation"(The Goal

pg.1). "It is the cessation of passion, aggression and ignorance"(The Goal pg.1).

"Nirvana is the highest happiness"(What is Buddhism pg.5). "It has become equated with a

sort of Eastern version of heaven."(The Goal pg.1). The way to reach Nirvana is " to

become empty, to become enpty of thirst, desire, dreams, pleasure, and sorrow- to let the

Self die"(Hesse pg.11). "Freedom from the Self liberates"(About Buddhism pg.1). Once

Nirvana is achieved one can escape the cyclical repetition of life, in which one is

reincarnated over and over again.

In Buddhism, "the ...

... middle of paper ...

... www.buddhanet.net/faqbud.htm

6.) "Buddhism." 17 Nov. 1999. n. pag. On-line. Internet. 17 Nov. 1999.

www.assoc.emts.ru/welcome/buddhism.htm

7.) Hesse, Hermann. Siddartha. New York: New Directions Publishing Corp., 1951

8.) "What is Buddhism?" 17 Nov. 1999. n. pag. On-line. Internet. 17 Nov. 1999.

www.buddhanet.net/ans3.htm

9.) "The Goal." 17 Nov. 1999. n. pag. On-line. Internet. 17 Nov. 1999.

www.buddhanet.net/ans3.htm

10.) "About Buddhism." 17 Nov. 1999. n. pag. On-line. Internet. 17 Nov. 1999.

www.ncf.carleton.ca/dharma/introduction/About-Buddhism.html

11.) "Who is Buddha?" 17 Nov. 1999. n. pag. On-line. Internet. 17 Nov. 1999.

www.buddhism.about.com/culture/buddhism/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm

12.) Tokyo, Japan 17 Nov. 1999. n. pag. On-line. Internet. 17 Nov. 1999.

www.geocities.com/tokyo/5215/

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