Short Essay
Shiyun Wang (Jack)
6464416
Introduction to Buddhism
INSTRUCTOR: Professor Brendan-John Reid Purdie

As a Chinese born, I always viewed Buddhism as a religion that originated from China. In China, Buddhism is often interpreted as Fó, the popular Shaolin monks are what comes to mind to most people. As a kid I would always watch Chinese martial art series that would often involves Chinese monks Fó, they were expert in the martial art and I also remarked that they would refuse to kill any beings. As of a result being a child I always viewed Buddhism as a religion that specialized in martial art. At that time I was convinced that Buddhism originated from China due to its long and rich history. As I grew older my understanding on Buddhism has dramatically changed. To my shock I’ve learned that Buddhism originated from India and the Buddha himself is very different from the portrayal that I’ve had in my mind. I always believed that Buddha was the founder of the Shaolin martial art. The more I grow older and the more I read and learn, I started to understand that the Buddhism is completely different that the Buddhism I thought I knew when I was a child. The Buddha that I have read about was someone serene that ascended and not a martial artist. Before taking this class I believed that the Buddha was the only religion that was atheistic. Due to the fact that the Buddha was merely a mortal that was born in India. But because of his deeds he transcended and now teaches its followers through spiritual means. At this point I was convinced that the Buddha thought, humility and serenity through Buddhism. I started to believe that any Buddhist was an individual that holds strong human value, a person serene that views life with peace through meditating Just be hearing the famous quote from Buddha, makes me want to challenge myself and I view our society with a different eye. At the end of the day, everything that I have learned about the Buddhism, they might be true and they might be wrong. I guess I’ll just have to find that out during class. Also, I took this class because I believed that a course from the university level should finally bring me a most definite answer to Buddhism. Finally clear all the different idea that I was that was thrown at me. Also a friend of mine took this course and he loved the material and the instructors and since it’s a morning class it fitted my schedule well, there was no way I wouldn’t take this course. At the end of the day, through this course I hope I finally get the truest meaning of Buddhism, find out who the Buddha really is and finally find the true meaning of nirvana that if often associated to Buddhism. Maybe after this course, I might convince myself to study further into Buddhism as it always intrigued me since I was a kid.