Buddhism Two Teachings And One Ultimate Goal - 3055 Words

Brandi Peavy Jeremy Rottini Research Paper April 26, 2015 Buddhism: Two Teachings; One Ultimate Goal When someone mentions the word â€Å"Buddha†, one thing typically comes to mind and that is probably a fat and joyful man sitting with his legs crossed. This is a common statue for Buddhism, however that statue only represents a small aspect of the religion that we know as Buddhism. Buddhism is one of the world’s oldest and most significant religions (Malloy pg. 124). There are numerous sects within the umbrella of this ancient Eastern religion. The two main branches of Buddhism are Theravada and Mahayana. The basis of the schools of Theravada and Mahayana are similar but the teachings can be very different. The Theravada school is the last surviving school that is believed to be represented by the original Buddha. Mahayana came much later and just over 100 years after the historical Buddha’s death. Buddhism has spread through most of Asia and is gaining many followers in the West. It started in India and arose from the experience of one person (Malloy p g. 124). Buddhism started with Siddhartha Guatama, who would later be known as the Buddha or the Awakened One. Siddhartha was born to a wealthy, royal family in India. He was raised in the Hindu belief system and lived a happy and sheltered life. Siddhartha’s father had expected him to take the throne and so he took extreme measures to hide any form of suffering from Siddhartha. He was raised in a large, walledShow MoreRelatedGod And The Truth Of The Bible1162 Words   |  5 PagesChristianity. Prior to reading the chapter on Buddhism in my book â€Å"The World’s Religions† the only information that I knew about the Buddhist religion was that there was meditation and a lot of relaxation involved, but I came to understand and respect the Buddhist religion. I was able to gain insight on the different types of Buddhism but also how one achieves complete insight and serenity. In order to achieve complete insight and serenity there is a â€Å"Path† one must take. This Path begins with the FourRead MoreBuddhism, Hinduism, But Still From India852 Words   |  4 PagesIf you did not follow Hinduism, but still from India, you may follow Buddhism. This religion founded in North-eastern India is based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama known as the Buddha. In most Buddhist traditions, he is regarded as the Supreme Buddha meaning awakened one or the enlightened one†. Originating as a monastic movement within the dominant Brahman tradition of the day, Buddhism quickly developed in a distinctive direction than Hinduism. The Buddha rejected significant aspectsRead MoreZen Buddhism From Chinese Buddhism1195 Words   |  5 PagesZen Buddhism originated from Chinese Buddhism that was transmitted to Japan. The Zen school was known as one of the many Buddhist religion in Japan. In Japan, â€Å"Zen is defined as the â€Å"buddha mind,†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦t he ultimate reality, or â€Å"emptiness,† of all things and the enlightened state, or knowledge of that reality, characteristic of a buddha† (Bielefeldt 1995: 198). Zen emphasizes on the insight into the Buddha-nature through seated meditation (zazen), meditation practice, and teacher-sudden interaction. ZazenRead MoreZen Buddhism And The Zen School1252 Words   |  6 PagesZen Buddhism originated from Chinese Ch’an Buddhism that was transmitted to Japan. The Zen school was known as one of the many Buddhist religion in Japan. In Japan, â€Å"Zen is defined as the â€Å"buddha mind,†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦the ultimate reality, or â€Å"emptiness,† of all things and the enlightened state, or knowledge of that reality, characteristic of a buddha† (Bielefeldt 1995: 198). Zen emphasizes on the insight into the Buddha-nature through seated meditation (zazen), meditation practice, and teacher-sudden interactionRead MoreBuddhism And Its Views On Buddhism973 Words à ‚  |  4 PagesBuddhism is one of the major religions of the world; it was founded in India and is based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, Buddha, or the Enlightened One/Awakened One. Buddhism is non-theistic and is not based on any concept of a supreme or one ruling God. A Buddhist approach is a naturalistic one and the sole purpose of the followers is to end or reduce suffering (dukkha) and attain a state of liberation or enlightenment and the freedom from the cycle of death and rebirth (Nirvana). BuddhistRead MoreSimilarities Between Hinduism And Hinduism1560 Words   |  7 Pagesyoga, meditation, and Buddha. Buddhism and Hinduism are two of the world’s oldest religion. Since Buddhism developed from Hinduism they can be very similar however, they are not the same because both religions have different types of rituals, founders, and gods. They also have different views on life and enlightenment. In this paper I will discuss the foundations and practices of both religions and then move into a discussion comparing and contrasting the two religions. Hinduism is a veryRead MoreThe More Conservative Side Of The Two Major Branches Of Buddhism1507 Words   |  7 PagesThe Ruwanwelisaya Temple in Sri Lanka Theravada is considered to be the more conservative side of the two major branches of Buddhism. Theravada Buddhism developed from the sect called Vibhajjavada that was established in Sri Lanka in the 3rd century BC. Sri Lanka is the oldest continually Buddhist country in the world. Theravada is also the dominantly the main religion in this country, officially introduced in the 2nd century BC by Mahinda the son of the emperor Ashoka. This religion is also in spreadRead MoreBuddhism : The Popularity Of Buddhism1306 Words   |  6 PagesBuddhism Culture in China Instructor Dr. Jack Name: Zhoudongxue Zhang Student #: 100311725 Date: 26/11/2015 The Popularity of Buddhism in China Buddhism is one of the most popular religions in the world. The Pew Research Center reports that nearly 488 million people practice Buddhism, which represents 7% to 8% of the world’s entire population. Buddhism is mainly practiced in the Asia-Pacific region with approximately 481,290,000 Buddhists, which means 99% of Buddhists live in Asia-PacificRead MoreBuddhism And Their Beliefs Of Buddhism1518 Words   |  7 PagesBuddhism and their beliefs Buddhism is the largest religioncultural influence in its own way. Buddhism is becoming popular and well known in the western parts of the world. Hinduism and Buddhism share the same teaching of karma.They both teach about the cause and effect that karma leaves on one’s life. Buddhism’s main goal is to find enlightment. Siddhartha Gautama is the founder of Buddhism. He was born around 600 B.C. to a powerful family in India. He had a comfortable homewith very little experienceRead MoreBuddhism And Christianity : The Ideals Of Social Structure And Society Of Their Era843 Words   |  4 PagesBuddhism and Christianity came about before 600 C.E. and reformed the ideals of social structure and society of their era. Both the Buddha and Christ taught during a large political collapse, focusing on the spirituality and morality of a person in society. These like monotheistic religious views both had a central doctrine but held different positions on how to acquire this truth . Buddhist and Christians teachings both challenged social norms by preaching equality among all both in gender and