The religion Buddhism came from Buddha’ meaning to awaken. 300 million people around the world are practitioners of Buddhism. In the United States, about one million people serve one form of Buddhism. From Indian, China, Japan, Russia to the United States have practitioners of Buddhism. Siddhartha Gotama known as Buddha was the creator of Buddhism some 2,500 year ago in India. Buddha taught his followers a philosophy teaching a way of life not just a religion. Buddha also taught followers: have a spiritual life, to stay mindful and aware of thinking paths gain, and achieve wisdom and understanding of one physical and spiritual life.
History of Buddhism
Buddha was born in 563BC to a royal family in the land call Lumbini, India. Buddha did not totally agree with the Brahmanical tradition teaching, which initially expresses itself in the Vedic. The S`ramana (mendicant) movement was a part Buddhism. Especially the teaching of the Karma (action) that brings tells about retribution of one spirit following existence under the S`ramana. Buddha teaches practitioners material possessions did not guarantee happiness. Buddha was not a GOD, and never claims to be but a physical representative of the Supreme Being. After six years of seeking knowledge of different religions and philosophies of that time; Buddha finally found the spiritual path and was enlightened. Buddha taught the teaching of Dhamma (truth) for the rest of life until his death of 80 years
Four Noble Truths
Budda taught the basic concepts of the four noble truths:
First truth, life is suffering: Pain, grows old, disease, and death are a part of Buddhism teachings. Practitioners also endure loneliness frustration, fear, embarrassm...
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... not to do show a miserly spirit.”(Jones 2009, p. 46) The Mahayana speaks of Bodhisattvas, Avalokiteswara who protects practitioners from dangers and the most popular Buddha was Amitabha (pure land).
Works Cited
JENSINE, A. and Vrede van Huyssteen, W. ( 2009) "Buddhism." Encyclopedia of Science and Religion. Vol. 1. New York: Macmillan Reference USA, 2 pp. 2 vols. Gale Virtual Reference Library. retrieved December 5, 2009 from Gale. Apollo Library.
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JOHANNES, B. and Buswell, R. E."Hinduism and Buddhism." Encyclopedia of Buddhism. Buswell, Jr. Vol. 1. New York: Macmillan Reference USA, 2004. 5 pp. 2 vols. Gale Virtual Reference Library. retrieved December 5, 2009 Gale. Apollo Library. 7 Dec. 2009
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Buddhism was founded by one man, Siddhartha Guatama. He was born into royalty around 563 B.C.E. in a Kingdom near the border of India and Nepal. He was raised in wealth and luxury, and at the age of 16, he married a wealth woman and they had a child together. Around the age of 29, he began to realize that all humans were in a cycle of suffering, dying, and then being reincarnated only to suffer and die over and over again. It was then that he decided to leave his wife and child to find a way out of this repeating cycle of life and death. First he studied with teachers, but found he was coming to no conclusions, so he turned to more extreme things such as self-mortification, but he was still left unsatisfied.
Yu, Han. “Memorial on Buddhism”. Making of the Modern World 12: Classical & Medieval Tradition. Trans. Richard F. Burton. Ed. Janet Smarr. La Jolla: University Readers, 2012. 111-112. Print.
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 a religion that was created after Buddha, whose real name is Siddharta Gautama. According to an introductory article on Buddhism by Stanford University, it is estimated that Buddha was born “around 490 B.C.E in the foothills of the Himalayas” (Introduction to Buddhism, 2007). Although, nobody is able to accurately pinpoint the origins of Buddhism as a religion, many believe that it originated in the Northern parts of India.
Bronkhorst, Johannes. Buddhism in the Shadow of Brahmanism. Leiden: Brill, 2011. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost), EBSCOhost (accessed December 5, 2013).
Ford, Stephen. "Review of Buddhism." Tutorial workshop for Introduction to Religion Class at York University. Toronto. 21 Feb. 2005.
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)
Buddha once said “As the great ocean has built one taste, the taste of salt, this Dharma has but one taste, the taste of freedom.” The Four Noble Truths sum up the basics of Buddha’s teaching, though he has left many things left unanswered. The Eightfold Path breaks down these four nobles into three different categories to help us further understand them. All over the world 300 million or about 6% of Americans practice Buddhism, which was established by Siddhartha Gautama, also known as the “Enlightened One”. Buddha who also known as Siddhartha of India in the 6th century was influenced by the prevailing beliefs of his time. It was said that he was born in 566 then passed away in 480 B.C. and was born in Nepal to a chief of the Shakya clan.
Eliot, Sir Charles. HINDUISM AND BUDDHISM. 1921. Vol. 1. London: ROUTLEDGE & KEGAN PAUL LTD, 1954. 3 vols. wisdom library. Web. 9 Dec. 2013. .
Christianity and Islam are monotheistic religions, but Buddhism differs from those religions as it is considered more of a ‘lifestyle’ than a specific type of religion. Buddhism centers around ...
Siddhartha Gautama is famously known as Gautama Buddha and was the founder of the idea of Buddhism. The Buddha was known to possess supernatural powers and abilities. He was born in the holy land of Nepal and his journey began in India when he decided to travel and teach himself about life. In the midst of his journey, he discovered Buddhism after he experienced a profound realization of the nature of life, death and existence. Buddhism became a religion based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama and since then Buddhism has been popular throughout many civilizations. Buddhism is now one of the most ancient religions in the world, where people follow Buddha, which stand for “awakened one,” and Buddhism which has gained popularity because of the teachings of the Buddha.
"What is Buddhism? | The Buddhist Centre." What is Buddhism? | The Buddhist Centre. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2014. .
From the moment we are born we have the tendency of craving the worldly desires that we are exposed to. Its part of human nature to want an ideal life where you are either wealthy, powerful, happy or all of the above without any suffering involved. Although that ideal sounds phenomenal, it is the thought of limitation that drives many people to seek for something more than just worldly pleasures. As some stay within the lines of an insatiable life, others come to the realization that living a life with nothing but worldly pleasures and goals are ultimately not everlasting. This is the point where people go on to pursue something bigger than themselves, something that gives them a purpose and infinite joy or as most would call it, a religion. One of the most fascinating major world religions that many have chosen to follow for centuries is Buddhism. A very complex, yet intriguing religion that seeks for a way of life that ultimately releases a person from suffering and leads them to inner peace and joy.
Fisher, Mary Pat. "HINDUISM." Living Religions. 1991. Reprint. Upper Saddle River: Person Education, 2011. 73-120. Print.
Buddhism was founded around 520 BC by Siddharta Gautama, who was an Indian Prince. Buddhism emphasizes practice over belief. In reality, however, Buddhism centers on correct understanding of human nature and ultimate reality. The Buddha was, after all, called the "Enlightened One." He taught that the way to eliminate suffering began with understanding the true nature of the world. In Buddhism, the purpose of life is to end suffering. The Buddha taught that humans suffer because we continually strive after things that do not give lasting happiness.