The History and Practice of Buddhism (Mahayana Sect)

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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.

http://find.galegroup.com.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com/ips/start.do?prodId=IPS.

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

http://find.galegroup.com.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com/ips/start.do?prodId=IPS.

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