...Buddha Research Paper Throughout all of time the world has changed in many different ways. These changes occurred in the categories of architecture, intelligence, the human body itself, but the most important change is religion. Religion has changed in the way people depict their deity but the basic teachings of the specific religion remains the same. People may argue that the teachings have changed, which is true to an extent. The change is not necessarily a major change it is just the different ways that people interpret the teachings of their certain religion but the foundation of the teaching will stay the same such as "one shall not kill, commit adultery and steal". These are just some of the basic teachings in every religion. Although...
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...1 Unit Materials Questions To Consider Question 1. How did Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam spread across the world, and why are they practiced so far from their origins? Question 2. How did these three major world religions change and adapt to diverse cultural circumstances? Question 3. Why did Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam emerge when and where they did? Question 4. How did Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam interact with, provide justification for, and conflict with various states and empires in Afro-Eurasia? The Big Picture How is this topic related to Increasing Integration? As Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam spread across the borders and frontiers of Afro-Eurasia, they integrated diverse peoples by means of a common religion. How is this topic related to Proliferating Difference? The spread of Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam introduced new beliefs and practices to a wide variety of peoples. These beliefs and practices were often quite different from indigenous religions. In addition, indigenous beliefs and practices often changed the new religions as they adapted to local conditions. These changes frequently resulted in the development of different sects within the new religions. Unit Purpose ß Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam spread across borders and frontiers as a result of missionaries, pilgrims, and trade. Each of these three major world religions changed over time, and all served as elements of change in the societies where they were introduced. ß 1 ...
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...Contemporary Issues in Buddhism Team D REL/133 May 21, 2013 Prof. Joseph Pirelli Buddhism is considered one of the oldest forms of religion dating back over 2,500 years; which originated in Thailand and has spread throughout Asia and begun to spread in Northern America, with over 125 million practicing Buddhists today. Siddhartha Gautama the founder of Buddhism became Buddha, his teachings and philosophy of selflessness and love towards others, modest and meek lifestyle, karma and reincarnation, education, and total submission and control of the mind and body are the basics of this religion. Buddhism has similar characteristics with other major religions that include practices, rituals, scriptures, and believes such as the belief in a deity or higher greater power. It has a doctrine accepting teachings of salvation and a code of conduct. The Buddhism religion maintains an essential qualities or religious practices that are passed down from generation by sources such as authorities and or their followers are accept as sacred. The Buddhist teachings consist of the Noble Eight Fold Path: 1.) Right View- full understanding of life. 2) Right of Intention- selflessness and good will towards all. 3.) Right Speech- always watching words 4.) Right Actions- always in control of ones actions and the results or impact of them. 5.) Right Livelihood-live upstanding example nothing illegal or unethical. 6.) Right Effort- always displays effort...
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...In Chapter 15, it presents us with summarized and detailed explanations of how basic ideas change with time in Buddhism especially after Mahayana becomes the main stream of Buddhism. There are also dialogues between Mouzi and questioners arguing about the Buddhism’s potential effects on Chinese culture. Buddhism does not put much concentration on philosophical and metaphysical explanations of the Way like other schools of thoughts; neither did it intend to admonish rulers by concerning about political issues. Buddhism’s targeted audience would be those who want to achieve nirvana since it emphasizes a lot on humanity and regards teaching the idea of transmigration to commoners as their priority. The questioners’ suspect tones in Mouzi’s Disposing of Error reveal that most people at that time are suspicious about Buddhism because it is completely different from ideas proclaimed by former religion groups. However, it does not deviate from central ideas but brings more flexibility. Based on the belief that all things are transient, people and rules need to change with time. This is demonstrated by Buddhism beliefs that monks can injury themselves, do not need to marry and give birth to the next generation and even do not have to bow down before a king. Although it seems that Buddhism contradicts with Confucianism’s idea of filial piety as well as disregards Daoists’ desire for immortality, it actually brings humanity to the first place. Buddhism’s arguments are not as effective...
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...Buddhism Eric Regenbogen Akira Shimada Ancient World 12/4/13 Buddhism is a religion based upon the idea that people are responsible for their own liberations form misapprehensions, and to gain enlightenment. Two pivotal time periods are granted acknowledgement for the development of Buddhism. These time periods are known as the Later Vedic era and the Secondary Urbanization period. In the Gangetic Valley around 500-400 BCE, Buddhism along with Jainism began to emerge as prevalent religions. The main features within these non-Vedic religions appealed to the individuals within the Gangetic valley. Buddhism as well as the Non-Vedic religions seemed to flourish in this region because of their rejections to the Vedic religions and its acceptance of Urbanization. The first time period that was mentioned was know as the Later Vedic period. This era took place around 1000-500 BCE and put an emphasis on a more settled lifestyle leaving behind the nomadic way of life previously practiced in the early Vedic era. During this time period people practiced a non-urban lifestyle in which they lived in villages (Course, Reading, “Theravāda Buddhism,”). Around 1000-800 BCE iron began to be used more frequently, allowing the intensification of plough agriculture and increasing the surplus from cultivation. Rice and barley were the main source of food grown during this era (Course, Reading, “Theravāda Buddhism,”). Long distance trade started to develop stimulating the finding of new land...
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...Religions are an important aspect of many lives of the people around the world. Religion is a cultural aspect in different countries, meaning different things to different people. When comparing religions there are six areas that are looked at these are; the absolute, the world, humans, the problem for humans, the solution for humans, and life after death. There are many religions around the world, some religions branch off of other religions. When looking into these religions I came to see why many are similar. They have the same beliefs but worship and view some aspects in different ways. Hinduism and Buddhism are sometimes mistaken as being the same religion, though they are similar. They both originated in India. Buddhism came to be by breaking off of Hinduism and now has their own beliefs....
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...Buddhism is a religion based on the teachings of a man called Siddhartha Gauthama. He lived for about 25 centuries. Siddhartha Gauthama came to be called Buddha. In his life Buddha traveled and taught, he did not teach people what he had realized when he became enlightened. He taught people how to be come enlightened themselves. He taught them that awakening comes through your own direct experience, not through their beliefs. Buddhism spread throughout Asia to become one of the dominant religions in the continent. It is over 350 million people who practice Buddhism, which would make Buddhism the fourth largest of the world’s religions. Buddhism is different from other religions and some people question if it is really a religion. For most religions the focus is on God. For Buddhism, they are taught that believing in gods was not useful for people who were seeking enlightenment. In most religions, they are defined by their beliefs. Buddha said that we should not accept doctrines just because we read them in scripture or are taught them by priests. Buddha taught people how to realize truth for ourselves. The focus is on practice rather than belief. The foundation of Buddhism is the Four Noble Truths, which are the truth of suffering, the truth of the cause of suffering, the truth of the end of suffering, the truth of the path that frees us from suffering. The fourth of Buddha’s Noble Truths is The Noble Eightfold Path, it consists of eight factors, which are right view, right...
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...Name: Institution: Course: Tutor: Date: How did Buddhism change over the century in India? Introduction Even though there are numerous traditional religions in the Middle East and specifically in India, Buddhism has stood out as the most popular of all. This religion is recorded as having a history of approximately two thousand five hundred years. There are numerous attributes associated with this religion. One of these attributed, as stated by Duiker and Spielvogel, is that it is flexible and adapts freely to numerous local perceptions, practices and beliefs while at the same time upholding the core teachings of Buddha (p. 556). Buddhism is believed to have grown from a very humble beginning to become one of the internationally recognized religions. This religion enjoys a huge geographical coverage which is largely attributed to its tolerant spirit, incorporation of a myriad of beliefs, practices and traditions. The popularity of Buddhism has been growing significantly ever since it was established. Currently the religion is believed o have a global following totaling to over 400 million people. This implies that Buddhism is no longer a preserve of beliefs and practices for some local people in Asia. It has turned out to be a means of fulfillment to the concerns and spiritual needs of the people as well as a way of attaining trans-local objectives. Most of the studies carried out on the subject of Buddhism have revealed that this religion has undergone numerous transformations...
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...Huineng was the sixth patriarch of Ch’an Buddhism and was considered one of the founders of Ch’an Buddhism, next to Bodhidharma. He lived in the seventh century and made huge contributions to Chan Buddhism. He was an illiterate kitchen monk who lived with the fifth patriarch of Chan Buddhism, Hongren. Hongren, who was significant to the development of East Mountain Schools, taught Huineng and lead him to reach enlightenment. The legend, The Platform Sutra on Meditation and Wisdom, attributes the teaching of both gradual and sudden enlightenment to Huineng; the sutra is one of the most well known in the East Asian Buddhist world. The legend shows the divergence between Northern School of Ch’an advocating gradual enlightenment and Southern...
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...hierarchy of deities to get to God. There is a heaven and a hell of sorts that the person will go to when they pass on. Most times this depends on how you treated your fellow man or what you did to show God how you felt about him. It’s a no brainer really, the whole “Do unto others as you have them do unto you” or a form of this is in every religion. Then let’s not forget the Messiah or Prophet. Every religion has one. The messiah/prophet was sent by God; a form of himself as human to save humanity from their evil ways. In some religions he was born of the virgin and in others he did not get his calling until he was older. They are more than life and do no wrong. They go throughout the world helping the poor. A Robin Hood if you will; who took from the rich to give to the poor. Religions are rooted and grounded in tradition and give people something to believe in. A “Higher Power”. The “Higher Power” gives a sense of direction. The church through religion gives guidance on how to live our lives and be better people. Regardless of religion or sect, the church brings people together for understanding of the religion and to pray. The church plays an important and is very influential role in the way people live or conduct their lives (Erwin, 2012). With most religions being around the same, the “same” meaning they give guidance on how to live lives and be better. What are the big differences that make religions so different? Why do people feel their religion or God is better...
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...in the sixth century BCE Buddhism was born, born from a single man Siddhartha Guatama, the Buddha. After gaining his enlightenment under the Bodhi tree, the Buddha didn’t think that the rest of the world could handle all that he had learned. He did not want to teach others, nor did he want to spread his wisdom. Until at last his great compassion came over him and he started to gain the respect of few by going to his old peers first. By starting with other intellectuals he secured that they at least had the capacity to learn what he had to teach. From this point on he spread his philosophy on the middle path with everyone who would listen. He preached pacifism and that it was wrong to take any life be it a man’s or any lesser being’s. He taught that the noble eightfold path was the route to end all suffering, and that the individual was the most important factor in achieving enlightenment. The Buddha taught about the five aggregates, the notion that the human being is made up of matter, sensation, consciousness, perception, and mental formations. In all of his teachings however the Buddha did not do so much as a lay a groundwork for which his followers could build a society on. The Buddha was acting out of compassion in that he had found the way to end his suffering and wanted to help others do the same. He was not however trying to build himself up as a God, and create a religion under which he was the focal point. Since this was not his goal, he did not get into politics, social...
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...is a Buddha and a Bodhisattva in both Theravada (early) Buddhism and Mahayana Buddha in early Buddhism is more about philosophy than religion, and This Buddha values individual practices to enlightenment. It includes nuns and monks and accepts women. The Buddha in early Buddhism was a man originally named Siddharta, and he was the son of an Indian king; it was predicted that Siddharta would also be a king in the future. One day, Siddharta was tired of his luxurious prince life and decided to go far away from his common entourage to learn about the real happiness since he did not believe that money, power or luxuries bring happiness to a person. Throughout his adventure, Siddharta came to know that life is suffering because he met tiring old people, sick people, and people going through death. He went on and learned about what causes suffering and what makes end to it; in one word, he learned about the four noble truths and the eightfold path. He became a Buddha (the awaken one) after he meditated and came to enlightenment. This early Buddha showed more reasons through what he experienced to teach others. Contrary to the Buddha in early Buddhism, a Buddha in Mahayana is more about religion. This Buddha valued instant enlightenment, compassion and mindfulness and include many people. Bodhisattva was just mentioned in early Buddhism by the Buddha but was not part of the early Buddhism. It is part of the Mahayana Buddhism. First, as stated in the book “Buddhist Wisdom,” Bodhisattva...
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...Kadampa Buddhism Tobias Nelson Axia College of University of Phoenix HUM130 Religions of the World Ed Sinclair January 7, 2010 Overview Through out this course, many different religions have been discussed, and many facts of each that were unknown to me previously, have been communicated and explained to me through our instructor, text, and discussions with fellow students. While many of these religions had interesting histories and figures, the one that intrigued me and stood out from the rest, was Buddhism. I had the pleasure of visiting a Buddhist meditation center in Seattle, and sat down and discussed the basic principles and beliefs of Buddhism with one of the meditation center practitioners. I will explain in this report the foundation and important figures within Kadampa Buddhism, and how they formed this particular branch of Buddhism; the meditation center and the daily practices; the practitioner that I interviewed and how Buddhism has transformed his life; compare and contrast Kadampa Buddhism with Islam; and conclude with a brief summary of what I personally learned from this experience. Buddhism Buddhism started more than 2000 years ago in India by a man who grew up with every worldly desire that a human could want, but it was these desires, and seeing the “four sights,” that drove him away from his family and his wealth. He lived a life of poverty and suffering, which he believed would be the way to find total liberation from suffering. Realizing...
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...Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Christianity Many countries form ideas and rules based on religion that is practiced as a whole by the society of that country. In addition religion continues to affect rules and ideas that is promoted by various cultures. Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Christianity are some of the most popular religions that are used throughout the world. Arabs has made Islamists powerful in Countries like Tunisia, Egypt and Morocco. Religious institutions are a public significance more so now than before. “In the Muslim political imaginary, the khulafa’ al-rashidun represent an idealized moment in history, that of the first four caliphs, the rightly-guided, who came after the prophet Muhammad: Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, Umar Ibn al-Khattab, Uthman Ibn Affan, and Ali Ibn Abi Talib. The period from the death of the prophet in 632 to that of Ali in 661 marks a golden era after which political history is conceived as having degenerated. However, Umar Ibn Abd al-Aziz (717-720) from the Umayyad dynasty is often seen as part of the rightly-guided Caliphs and defines what is often dubbed the “5th caliphate”. He exemplifies the possibility of being a pious and just ruler in times of corruption.” (Zeghal, 2012) The above reference was used by Jebali and was taken out of Islamic past to state about political renewal within an Islamic saying. Representatives of al-Nahda insisted that the reference was symbolic, and did not question al-Nahdha’s commitment to...
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...Did Han Yu’s memorial on the Bone of Buddha contributed to religious intolerance and persecution of Buddhism in the late Tang dynasty? Chinese Buddhism reached its highest point of popularity and influence during Han Yu’s lifetime, and this matter as a Confucian greatly concerned him. Han Yu was afraid and disappointed that the traditional Chinese value system as family ancestors worship will be lost if Buddhism’s influences will continue to thrive and gain more influence on every level in society. He did not agree that Confucian values were excluded from Buddhist and Daoist values and to see bringing” a finger “of Buddha, (who was a foreigner to China), was blasphemy and insulting to Confucian values and traditional Chinese culture. The need for suppression of Buddhism in Han Yu’s Memorial on the Bone of Buddha was social, traditional and economical. In regards of social aspects, Prebish states that: “Confucianism promoted social stability, order, strong families, and practical living, and Chinese officials questioned how a monk's monasticism and personal attainment of nirvana benefited the empire” (1975, p.192). Han Yu railed against Buddhism for undermining the social structure of China. For Han Yu Buddhists' withdrawal from society was necessary, since the Chinese believed that their people should be involved with family life. Han Yu explains that “He understood neither the duties that bind sovereign and subject nor the affections of father and son”...
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