Buddhism Essay - 1168 Words

High in the mountains of the Himalayas chants ring out from the Tibetan monastery. For most this is a dream-like vacation to a far away land. For some of the people who live in Tibet and India this is everyday life as a Buddhist. Buddhism revolves around a strict code of daily rituals and meditations. To an outsider they can seem mystical or even odd, but these are the paths to enlightenment and spiritual salvation. Throughout the centuries, Buddhism has evolved into a major religion in Asia and other parts of the world. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The mystical roots of Buddhism can be traced back to the first century BCE. Buddhism began with the birth of Siddhartha Gautama. When Siddhartha was born he was noticed as having â€Å"the 32†¦show more content†¦Although it teaches the balance of family with society, Confucianism is more of a political ideology. In Asia, it concerns the division of property among citizens. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Lastly, among others, is Zen. This is the most important of Buddhist practice. Zen is more a ritual than a â€Å"written in stone† doctrine. The rituals deal with meditation and the path to enlightenment. â€Å"Zen Buddhism†¦is the basic practice of meditation in order to reach peace within ones self† (Clark and Brown 8). For most Buddhists it is Zen that leads the way to enlightenment. The practice involves reflecting upon one’s self and meditating in order to reach spiritual salvation, or Nirvana, the highest level of spiritual peace. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Buddhist practice can generally be divided into two sects, the Mahayana and the Theravada. The Theravada sect, the eldest, is commonly referred to as the â€Å"tradition of the elderly† (Hansen 4). The basic belief is that your â€Å"station† in life is directly related to the spiritual state of your soul. According to the beliefs, â€Å"enlightenment is reserved for a select group of religious figures and scholars† (Clark and Brown 5). As can be expected, the Theravada sect is less common. Followers of the Theravada are more commonly found in Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Burma (Hansen 4). nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The second sect, the Mahayana, is the youngest one. It is commonly referred to as the Greater Vehicle. MahayanaShow MoreRelatedBuddhism : Buddhism And Buddhism1009 Words   |  5 Pages Zen Buddhism isn’t exactly a â€Å"religion†, but a way of living. It creates peace within the human mind that allows one to grow, develop and look at the world more positively. Originating in China in 650 C.E., Zen Buddhism is a combination between Indian Mahayana Buddhism and Taoism. Mahayana Buddhism promotes bodhisattva, which is practicing the way of life in the direction of Buddha. Taoism is a religion developed by Lao-tzu, a Taoist philosopher, and focuses on obtaining long life and good fortuneRead MoreBuddhism, Buddhism And Buddhism1371 Words   |  6 PagesBuddhism is one of the largest religions in the world that started in India. Later spreading to China,Burma,Japan , Tibet and other parts of southeast Asia. Buddhism is a religion that Is concentrated on spiritualism than religious teachings. Established by the buddha, one must obtain their own spiritual awakening, or nirvana through meditation. There are three main branches of Buddhism Theravada Buddhism , Mahayana Buddhism and Tantric Buddhism. About 2,500 years ago, Prince SiddharthaRead MoreBuddhism : Buddhism And Buddhism982 Words   |  4 PagesBuddhism is a philosophy that is often viewed as a religion and dates back to approximately 6th century B.C.E. Buddhism originated in the Indian subcontinent by a man known as Siddhartha Gautama. 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The theory I mostly identify with is the philosophy of Buddhism, its teachings, and the importance of meditation. Some people would argue that Buddhism is a religion not a philosophy, and vice versa, but nonetheless the Buddha has an idea of self in our current life. Buddhism teaches us that life is, and full of suffering and that nothing in life is eternal. The ultimate goal of Buddhism is Nirvana, which means liberation from the constant cycle of life and death, andRead MoreThe Teachings Of Buddhism And Buddhism939 Words   |  4 Pagesfamous religion icon of all time the Buddhism. Many people became followers of this very wise man we know as the Buddha. Buddhism is based on the teaching of Siddhartha Gautama, Buddha, who was born in the Ganges River Valley, the foot of the Himalayas. The Buddha led people in meditation and enlightenment to the next level. Philosophers such as Santideva and Thich Nhat Hanh, have led the life to follow the Buddhism ways and live their day to day life off of it. Buddhism gave them the enlightenment toRead MoreThe Religion Of Buddhism And Buddhism1730 Words   |  7 Pageslife. The religion of Buddhism is one of these that had this effect when it began to spread from India where it originated, to many Asian countries especially China where it would have the biggest impact. In China, Buddhism would take root and would grow to become a popular religion in the country much like the other major religions of China, Confucianism and Taoism, which together with Buddhism would later be known as the â€Å"Three Teachings†. Additionally, at some point Buddhism would began to loseRead MoreReligion Of Buddhism : Buddhism963 Words   |  4 Pagesinterested in the religion of Buddhism. After I watched Oprah Winfrey’s television series, Belief Buddhism has become something I wished to look into on a deeper level. Therefore, On October 9, 2016, I visited Wesleyan college East Asian studies facilities to participate in their Sunday meeting of Practice and Talk. During this hour and a half meeting, individuals who are exploring Buddhism wil l learn the surface practice of Buddhism more specifically shin Buddhism. Shin Buddhism or the teachings of ShinranRead MoreBuddhism, Buddhism And The World Essay1999 Words   |  8 PagesBuddhism is the fourth largest religion in the world, with more than 5 million believers in the world. Buddhism is a kind of religion and law that contains various traditions, beliefs, and spiritual practices. Buddhism from India, between the sixth and fourth centuries BC, and gradually spread to Asia. Although Buddhism originated in India, China has many believers in the dissemination and contribution. Chinese Buddhism began in the Han Dynasty and became the most powerful in the Tang Dynasty. WithRead 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-Pacific