...What is Buddhism? General Information Buddhism is a path of practice and spiritual development leading to Insight into the true nature of life. Buddhist practices such as meditation are means of changing oneself in order to develop the qualities of awareness, kindness, and wisdom. The experience developed within the Buddhist tradition over thousands of years has created an incomparable resource for all those who wish to follow a path - a path which ultimately culminates in Enlightenment or Buddhahood. Because Buddhism does not include the idea of worshipping a creator God, some people do not see it as a religion in the normal, Western sense. The basic tenets of Buddhist teaching are straightforward and practical: nothing is fixed or permanent; actions have consequences; change is possible. Thus Buddhism addresses itself to all people irrespective of race, nationality, or gender. It teaches practical methods (such as meditation) which enable people to realise and utilise its teachings in order to transform their experience, to be fully responsible for their lives and to develop the qualities of Wisdom and Compassion. There are around 350 million Buddhists and a growing number of them are Westerners. They follow many different forms of Buddhism, but all traditions are characterised by non-violence, lack of dogma, tolerance of differences, and, usually, by the practice of meditation. Who was the Buddha? Buddhism started with the Buddha. The word 'Buddha' is a title and not...
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...PART I: WORLD MAJOR RELIGIONS CHAPTER 1: BUDDHISM A SHORT HISTORY OF BUDDHA Traditional belief is that he was born a prince in Lumbinī, Nepal in the Terai lowlands near the foothills of the Himalayas. However, considerable archeological evidence now shows that he may have been born in Kalinga, now Orissa in India. He was a member of the Śakyas clan. His father, Suddhodana, was king of the clan. His mother was named Maya. There is no consensus on the date of his birth. Modern Buddhists of the Theravada tradition suggest he was born in 623 or 624 BCE. Until recently, many religious historians have preferred birth dates ranging from 567 to 487 BCE. Various modern scholars have suggested dates from 420 to 502 BCE. In short, nobody really knows. In common with many other great religious leaders, many miraculous stories were associated with his birth. He emerged from his mother's side without causing her any pain. The earth shook as he was born. As a newborn, he was miraculously showered with water. He stood up, took seven steps, announced that he would be the "chief of the world." He also stated that this would be his last reincarnation. He was given the name Siddhartha Gautama. Siddhartha means "one who has achieved his aim." Gautama was his clan name. He was sometimes referred to as Śakyamuni which means "the sage of the Śakyas." He may have been born into the second of the four Indian castes, the aristocratic warrior caste called Kşatriyas. His early life in...
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...Judaism Historical Information: Judaism first started from 2000b.c.-1500b.c. it first appeared in SW Asia. Judaism is a Hebrew religion. Their accounts became the Hebrew Bible. In 1200bc God told Moses to lead the Hebrews out of Egypt. Moses led them out of Egypt which is now called the Exodus. Their release from slavery proved to them God was protecting and watching over them. Beliefs: The Hebrews believed in only one God, Yahweh. They were the first monotheistic religion and the oldest today. Their central element was education, the study and ideas of justice and righteousness. They were obedient to the law and followed the Ten Commandments. They forbid working on holidays or on the seventh day of the week, and having certain foods to eat. There are also certain laws that must be followed. This law is also known as the Mosaic Law. Customs, Practices, and Traditions: Today some Jews are Rabbis. Rabbis are religious teachers. They also celebrate Hanukah. Hanukah is a holiday in which Jews light candles on a menorah. Modern Information: Today over 14 million people in the world practice this religion. Most people practice in a synagogue. All Hebrew don’t always practice the same way they just share their basic beliefs. Controversies: Today Hebrew has problems with who the church declares a saint, and where crosses should be located. Hinduism Historical Information: The Caste System divided Indian society into groups based on a person’s birth, wealth or occupation...
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...curiosity and intrigue for the ancient traditions and mystique surrounding these two groups. The Asian culture is very colorful, fascinating, and dynamic. Buddhism is a religion based on spiritualism and the development of one's spiritual growth toward enlightenment. Even though my culture is not Asian, and Buddhism is not my chosen religion, I do find the discipline, art, and the adherence to traditional values kindred to my own. I also find the Buddhist practice of meditation relaxing and very effective at calming one's mind and in refocusing your energy. Over the course of this paper, I will offer a brief insight into the religious and cultural similarities and differences between the Buddhist religion, the Asian culture, and the rest of the world, as well as the discrimination endured by both. Buddhism: Similarities, Differences, and Discrimination The Buddhist religion is unique because they do not worship a deity, as other faiths do. Buddhist followers believe that each being shall reach enlightenment without the guidance of a God or Gods (BBC Online Services, 2014). Contrary to what most people think or believe, Buddha was not a "god", but a teacher. The teachings of Buddha were merely the path toward Nirvana. The decision to make the journey toward enlightenment, being left up to each Buddhist follower. The Buddhist belief focuses on the life after death, and tolerance through love and non-violence. The Buddhist belief is that if you live a good life while...
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...Jainism Mahavira- the 24th teacher and the last Tirthankara Tirthankara- a person who has concourd discipline, samsara, and helps provide a path for others Digambara- one of the two major schools in Jainism (for males) Svetambara- a member of the two principle sects of Jainism (for Females) Samsara- the cycle of death and rebirth Moksha- overcoming the cycle of death and rebirth (the ultimate goal) Nirvana- same as moksha Kalpas- book containing biography’s of the tirthankaras Jina- councord temptation and moral discipline Jiva- the spiritual part of something Ajiva- the physical part of something Ahimsa- symbol meaning do no harm Aparigraha- being non-greedy (it’s a virtue) Anekantwad- the idea of mutual respect between others Sallekhana- practice of facing death voluntarily Swastika symbol meaning peace Kevala- the supreme knowledge Questions: 1.What is the central concept in Jainism? 2.How is time understood in Jainism? Time is cyclical 3.What is the difference between Hindu and Jain views of karma? Jains can escape the cycle of karma where as hindus can not 4.What are the two monastic orders in Jainism? Name one difference between the two. There is the Svetambara and the digambara. The digambaba is for males and the svetambara is for females Sikhism: Adi Granth (Guru Granth Sahib): received authority from guru gobind singh when he died. Guro granth sahib means living guru. Adi granth= kritan raga. Also is a holy scripture. Amrit: Amrit...
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...Kainoa Viluan History 151 In the book, Lustful Maidens & Ascetic Kings, Buddhist and Hindu stories of life, shares important values on how a family should and should not function. According to Hindu stories, the role of a husband and father are the foundation of keeping a family intact. Their important role is to be a householder, the protector of the family, which is regarded as the superior one. Under the classical Hindu ethical code, the Laws of Manu, being the householder is where it all begins. For example, in the Hindu story, The Brahman in the Graveyard, the third priest staying at the cremation site, resembles protection and honor for his wife on a daily basis. In the Hindu story, Good King Nala’s Downfall, King Nala’s addiction with gambling led him to abandon his wife Damayante, is an improper behavior of being a man. The moral of these stories teach men to be the head of the family, as the ones responsible for the welfare, protection, and morality of the family. A woman’s role is important in keeping a family together. Women should be faithful and devoted to their husband in any situation. In the Hindu story, Savatri and the God of Death, Savatri, a wife with courage and wisdom, is an example of an obedient servant to her husband. In the Buddhist story, The Radiant Sambula, Sambula, a wife that never left her husband’s side during his hardship, is an example of a virtuous woman, who gains trust and should be treated according to dharma. On the other hand...
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...growth of the individual. Buddhism philosophy teaches individuals to attain personal enlightenment, the persona of non-violence, and the ability to tolerance differences among people. Buddhism is less often referred to as organized religion and more often as a culture or way of life (Boeree, n.d.). “The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, nor to worry about the future, but to live the present moment wisely and earnestly.” Prince Hiddhartha Gautama or the Buddha is the founder of Buddhism. His name means, “One who has achieved his aim.” When resting under a Bodhi Tree in Gaya, the prince gained his goal of enlightenment and experienced three spiritual breakthroughs; 1. He developed the ability to recall his past lives and life events resulting from death and reincarnation. 2. He learned that deeds, whether good or bad that occurred during past lives, directly relate to subsequent reincarnations. 3. He learned to attain nirvana. The Buddha learned during this experience to put aside physical and mental deviations such as fear, exhaustion, delusion, doubt, desire, thirst, hatred craving, lusting, and temptation. Placing the physical aside, he could completely focus on the spiritual gaining enlightenment and the knowledge that in this final step of development, reincarnation would not recur. After attaining enlightenment, he began the...
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...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 this was not leading him to enlightenment, he began to practice the Middle Way, which is neither self indulgence nor self denial. Through this practice he finally experienced Supreme Enlightenment. A brief summary of his life is described by the Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso in his book, Meeting the Buddhas. “In northern India in 624 BC a baby was born to Queen Mayadevi and...
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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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...Nhat Hanh: “Buddhism is already engaged. If it is not, it is not Buddhism.” Walpola Rahula: “Buddhism is based on service to others”…political and social engagement is the “heritage of the bhikkhu” and the essence of Buddhism. Robert Thurman: “The primary Buddhist position on social action is one of total activism, an unswerving commitment to complete self-transformation and complete world-transformation.” Stated in simplest terms, engaged Buddhism means the application of Buddhist teachings to contemporary social problems. Engaged Buddhism is a modern reformist movement. A practitioner is socially engaged “in a nonviolent way, motivated by concern for the welfare of others, and as an expression of one’s own practice of the Buddhist Way” (King Being 5). In this description Sallie B. King invokes the spirit of the Bodhisattva vow: May I attain Buddhahood for the benefit of all sentient beings. According to Ken Jones engaged Buddhism is “an explication of social, economic, and political processes and their ecological implications, derived from a Buddhist diagnosis of the existential human condition” (Kraft New). Jones emphasizes the social theory underlying engaged Buddhism. According to engaged Buddhists the “three poisons” of greed, anger and ignorance apply both to the individual and to “large-scale social and economic forces” (Kraft New); their remediation is therefore the collective concern of society. As the subject of numerous treatises, anthologies, lectures...
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...Nanak-founder/father of Sikhism. Came out of two prevalent religious forces of his time: Hinduism & Islam. The last Guru: Guru Gobind Singh: 10th guru bestowed the guruship forever to Sikh Holy Scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib. (11th guru: living text: Adi Granth)Guru: teachers/masters. Spiritual person or divine inner voice. Langar: Communal meal served to everyone in Gurdwara. Despite gender and caste. Gurdwara; Place of worship “the Guru’s door” 5 K’s: all outward symbols of the divine word. Kes (unshorn hair means spirituality) Kangha (wooden comb means order) Kirpan (miniature sword, meaning divine grace and order. Kara (Steel Bracelet means allegiance to the guru.) Kachh: short breeches means restraint. Role of women: More egalitarian, but still expected to conduct themselves with family. Still a patriarchal society. Women have contributions to the panth. They can seek initiation into the Kahlsa but must have male counterparts with them. Will participate in langar also. It is egalitarian (democratic, classless, unrestricted). 4 notions of guruship: Eternal guru-god as the true guru/ Personal guru- teacher is guru, channel through which the eternal guru speaks (spiritual successions), not always sons but who is worthy/ Guru Ganth- scripture as guru, scripture is guru, guru granth sahib, adi granth the 11th continuous guru/ Guru Panth- community is Guru. The cherished 5 people that participate in the 5 K’s. The khalsa is the true guru. Power bestowed to...
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...Buddhism- A Study on Buddhist Monks Abstract: The purpose of this study is to explore the culture of the Buddhist Monks and their culture. The goal is to research the origination, worldview, religion, roles of men and women within their community, education, language and finally beliefs. Upon the study of the Buddhist Monks culture, information gathered highlighted the importance of the teachings of Buddha who is renowned as the enlighten one in and around the Buddhist community. The universal definition of what culture is the total inherited ideas, beliefs, values and culture which constitutes as the shared basis of social action. This could not have been more accurate for the study of Buddhism culture. In our study, we gathered that Buddhism is a philosophy which encompasses a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices which is based on the teachings of the renowned Buddha. The religion of Buddhism stretches to an extensive degree. Like many other cultures, there are different extents of religion, from the extreme to the customary and finally, to the moderate. There is no doubt that the Buddhist culture is vast. This research was embarking study of the Buddhist Monks. Research teaches us their discipline is refined and is intended to be conducive to the arising of mindfulness and wisdom. Furthermore, we gathered that the information of this culture is an excellent tool, which can be instrumental in leading to the end of all suffering. Enlighten information...
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...Buddhist Temple Complex Ramu, Cox’s Bazaar Tabassum Ahmed Department of Architecture North South University 1 Buddhist Temple Complex Ramu, Cox’s Bazaar A Design Dissertation submitted to the Department of Architecture in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Bachelor of Architecture (B. Arch) in the Faculty of North South University, Dhaka. The textual and visual contents of the Design Dissertation are the intellectual output of the student mentioned below unless otherwise mentioned. Information given within this Design Dissertation is true to the best knowledge of the student mentioned below. All possible efforts have been made by the author to acknowledge the secondary sources information. Right to further modification and/or publication of this Design Dissertation in any form belongs to its author. Contents within this Design Dissertation can be reproduced with due acknowledgment for academic purposes only without written consent from the author. Tabassum Ahmed 083163010 Dept. of Architecture North South University Dhaka 2012 2 Dedication To the Buddhist community of Ramu 3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I am thankful to Allah for giving me patience and strength to cope with the everyday hurdles in this whole journey of architecture. My deepest gratitude extends to my faculty, Dr. Shayer Ghafur for his constant guidance and support throughout this dissertation. I am thankful to Professor Haroon Ur Rashid for helping me to understand this...
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...“investigate a given patient’s or your own ethnic, cultural, and religious heritage…it can help determine how deeply a given person identifies with a particular tradition”. (prenhall.com). This assessment of 29 questions based on family, social, cultural, religious and immigration history can be very helpful in identifying the individual’s health traditions and beliefs, which can promote a more culturally competent R.N. Cultural competency is vital for the nurse in designing a plan of care that takes into consideration the culture and traditions of the patient’s belief system to deliver care that meets the patients needs. Cultural beliefs can have a huge impact on the adherence to treatment regimen, effectiveness of treatment and willingness to learn on the patient’s behalf. A culturally competent nurse fosters a mutually respectful relationship with the individual, provides a non-judgmental attitude to answers and traditions and seeks to include culturally important aspects into nursing care. Heritage is defined as “something handed down from one’s ancestors or the past, as a characteristic, a culture, tradition, the rights, burdens or status resulting from being born in a certain time or place; a birthright.” ("heritage", n.d.). The definition of culture is “a particular set of customs, morals, codes and traditions from a specific time and place.”(("culture", n.d.). This paper looks at a Hispanic individual/family from Mexico, Asian individual/family from Taiwan and an...
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...Buddhism, with about 365 million followers makes up 6% of the world's population and is the fourth largest religion in the world (exceeded by Christianity, Islam and Hinduism). Buddhism was founded in Northern India in the sixth century by the first Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama when he attained enlightenment. Buddhism is made up three main forms. They are Theravada Buddhism found mainly in Thailand, Burma, Cambodia and Laos, Mahayana Buddhism which is largely found in China, Japan, Korea, Tibet and Mongolia and Vajrayana Buddhism. Gautama Buddha, Siddharta, the prince who found Enlightenment after years of fasting, meditation and having followed the best spiritual teachers of India, When he was twentynine years old, he left the comforts of his home to seek the meaning of the suffering he saw around him. After six years of arduous yogic training, he abandoned the way of self-mortification and instead sat in meditation beneath a bodhi tree. When Buddhists take refuge in the Buddha, are honoring the man who started the whole tradition and taking refuge in the Buddha. Dharma (or Dhamma in Pali) stands for the teachings of Buddhism, or for the practice of the Buddhist Path. And for all of the different branches of Buddhism this is obviously going to include a wide variety of texts and teachings. There are four principle beliefs in Buddhism but, the main two really known are The Four Nobel Truths and The Eightfold Path. The “Four Noble Truths” of Buddhism are: Life means suffering...
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