...Lama and his impacts Buddhism originated in India and spread primarily through Asia. Now, it has become a worldwide religion, such as, the Tibetan Buddhism. Tibetan Buddhism has already established many communities of immigrant Tibetans in California, Colorado, New York, Hawaii, Switzerland, France, and Great Britain. Also, museums regularly acquire and show Tibetan Buddhist art (Molloy, 2008). Why does Tibetan Buddhism draw so much attention at present? One of reasons is the current Dalai Lama who has a significant impact on the people around the world. Who is “Dalai Lama” and why does he have such a significant impact on the people around the world? A religious reform movement emerged in Tibet in the fourteenth century, which came to be known as Gelug-pa. The Gelug-pa provided Tibet with its political leadership. The Dalai Lama is the executive head of the Gelug-pa (Molloy, 2008). In other words, the Dalai Lama is both the spiritual and political leader of the Tibetan people (Wieder, 1999). Meanwhile, Tibetan people believe that all the Dalai Lamas of Tibetan Buddhism are reincarnations of former Dalai Lamas. When a Dalai Lama dies, people will find and train the reincarnation (Sweet, 2009). People found the current Dalai Lama (the fourteenth Dalai Lama) in eastern Tibet (Molloy, 2008). He left Tibet in 1959 (Wieder, 1999), and thus his life was no longer limited in Tibet. This made many more people know Tibetan Buddhism and considerably improved his impacts on the people...
Words: 1736 - Pages: 7
...Sample Essay 1 Belief systems and philosophies have greatly affected the people and societies where they are practiced. They give guidelines on how to live their lives and affect every aspect of their cultures. Two such belief systems and philosophies are Hinduism and Confucianism. Hinduism is a religion with no founder. The people who practice this religion believe in moksha and reincarnation. Moksha is the freedom from earthly desires and a complete understanding of the world. Reincarnation is the belief that people are reborn over and over again until achieving moksha. Whether or not they are born into a good life depends on their previous life’s karma (good or bad deeds). In Hinduism, they also have a caste system. It divides people into four social classes and hardly gives any social mobility at all. People are decided which class they belong to at birth. For example, if a child is born into a family of slaves, that child will be a slave for the rest of his life. Confucianism is a philosophy started by Confucius in China. In Confucianism, the people valued education and believed in filial piety, the respect for elders. They also believed in the spirits of ancestors and created the famous quote, “do not do unto others, what you would not want them to do unto you.” Hinduism and Confucianism greatly affected the people and societies they were practiced in. In Hinduism, because of the belief in reincarnation and karma, people avoided doing bad deeds. Those who achieved...
Words: 2489 - Pages: 10
...Buddhism Introduction: This document is designed to study and reflect on the ancient tradition of Buddhism. This belief has turned into a worldwide religion with over 300 million disciples just in East Asia alone (Bamber, G. 2001). This artifact intends to overview the background and origins of this belief system and how it has established itself in the world as a dominating force in mainstream spirituality. Conflicting views and controversy are part of pretty much every culture and Buddhism is not exempt from the equation; this section will be covered in this artifact as well. Buddhism’s current state and condition will be outlined in this document along with the impact it has had on the modern world. Lastly, the examination will conclude on how Buddhism has not only impacted my own life but the role it has played in my everyday operation in society. Backgrounds and Origins: A man in his late twenties named Siddharta Gautama, a prince of a royal bloodline in Nepal, flees the lifestyles of the rich and famous in an attempt to attain a higher form of consciousness. Due to the overwhelming influence of Hinduism, many people like him sought out to craft a more subjective belief system. More than five years later, he discovered that the idea perpetuated by the environment around him through austerity was not the path he foresaw. Legend says that he sat down to meditate under a pipal tree until he reached a state of enlightenment. From that point on he was considered “Buddha”...
Words: 2639 - Pages: 11
...Danielle Copley Professor REL2300 4/7/13 What does it mean to be Human? There are many religions in the world each one is unique. I have often wondered what it means to be human in other religions other than Christianity. We will explore what it means in both the Hindu and Buddhist religions. We will start off with Hinduism. The Upanishads, perceived the individual self or atman as the immortal pure essence of each being. Hindus believe that everything has a soul. The atman is not the body; the body is not eternal. The body houses the atman until the body dies. Atman is immortal and eternal. All human beings are positioned in the all- embracing Brahman or the absolute. The Upanishads describe the Brahman as the eternal, conscious, irreducible, spiritual source of the universe of finiteness and change. Brahman is impersonal being in itself but it can be known through the many gods and goddesses that are manifestations of Brahman. We will look at atman first. . Moksha is the spiritual release from the cycle of life. In moksha the individual soul joins the atman. Atman is the eternal self, refers to the self beyond ego or false self. It is often referred to as spirit or soul and indicates the true self and underlies our existence. The individual soul becoming part of the larger soul of the universe. Achieving Moksha can span over many lifetimes. This process requires loss of attachment to life and the things in life. It also requires a balance of karma by a person’s duty...
Words: 1740 - Pages: 7
...Comparative Analysis of Christianity and Buddhism Maria-Goretti Etor Grand Canyon University HLT-310V Professor Todd Fowler May 31st, 2015 Abstract This paper gives an extensive view at the accompanying beliefs: Buddhism and Christianity. The reader will see the way Buddhism is even more a reasoning than a religion that spotlights on the brain similar to the inventor of disease and wellbeing. The reader will likewise find that Christianity is a religion that has confidence in one God, the inventor of all. This paper records the different segments that each of these religions may use at some time to impact mending including petition to God, reflection, droning, the utilization of healers, and so on. This paper additionally characterizes what is essential to individuals when watched over by suppliers whose convictions contrast from their own. Introduction Religious practice is one of the oldest traditional practices of the world till date, times may change, technology may advance, but vital beliefs of the people never alter. Before the advent...
Words: 1659 - Pages: 7
...Buddhist Meditation Implications for Physical and Psychological Health RELIG2212 Buddhism: Beliefs and Practices April 13, 2009 RELIG 2212 Buddhism: Beliefs and Practices April 13, 2009 I. Introduction a. Meditation as a central role in Buddhism b. Thesis statement: there is great potential for Buddhist meditation techniques to provide both physical and psychological health benefits. II. Meditation and anxiety a. Meditation and anxiety reduction b. Study by John Miller on Clinical Implications of a Mindfulness Meditation- Based Stress Reduction Intervention in the Treatment of Anxiety Disorders. III. Meditation and health a. Meditation and cardiovascular disease/blood pressure b. Study by Vernon Barnes on the “ Impact of Transcendental Meditation on Cardiovascular Function at Rest and During Acute Stress in Adolescents with High Normal Blood Pressure.” IV. Meditation and neurology a. Meditation and mind and brain functioning/neuroscience b. Visual imagery/attention studies c. Studies on virtuous mental states/meditation on lovingkindness V. Conclusion: These scientific studies demonstrating lowered stress and blood pressure, and demonstrating the possibility for a better understanding of brain functioning, make it clear that there is a great potential for Buddhist meditation techniques to provide health benefits and advances in modern science. Under a Bodhi tree, a man in robes vows to remain in seated meditation until...
Words: 2258 - Pages: 10
...America to friendly exchanges. The physical and spiritual communication caused by the Silk Road not only riches the physical lives of these regions around this road but also hugely impacts their culture and social structure. One of the most important contributions made...
Words: 1155 - Pages: 5
...Contemporary Buddhist practices reflect the foundations of the religion by keeping the same practices that were taught by the followers of Buddha. Buddhism is founded on helping others and by being selfless. These practices have been passed down to others by those who teach others that there should be real concern for others and to teach them that we are the cause for our own problems. Buddhist teaches people that they should not bring harm to themselves or harm to others. They believe that meditation can bring you peace and help you center your feelings so that you can bring peace to others. Buddhism does not believe in material items they think that you should only use what is needed. The practice of Buddhism is not for those whom believe in a God that created all and should be preyed to for everything. What religion would you like to consider for your final project? Describe the place of worship you will visit. I would like to take the chance to interview someone on Buddhism. I have been looking for a place to interview and the one resource I have found to do so is an online forum for Buddhism. What do you already know about this topic? I do not know a lot about this religion, except for what I have learned in this weeks study. What are some sources you could use to gain more knowledge about this religion? The one source that I will be relying on the most will be the online library and the other online web sites dedicated to this religion. What type...
Words: 453 - Pages: 2
...In the first century C.E, Buddhism came to China from India via trade. Political instability and disunity between 220 C.E and 570 C.E. are effects of the arrival of Buddhism in China because some people accepted the religion and others resisted it. Zong Mi believes that the teachings of Confucius, Laozi, and the Buddha, perform and reward good deeds and punish wicked deeds, synthesize the foundation for an orderly society (Doc 5). An anonymous Chinese scholar addresses speculation about the validity and the practices of the Buddhist religion, such as depriving themselves of certain luxuries of the world, i.e. marriage, children, and worldly wealth. This scholar claims that in order for a teaching to be acceptable it doesn’t need to be incorporated...
Words: 911 - Pages: 4
...Europe impacted society greatly, and so did Buddhism in Japan. Economies of both lands were essential to development of national finances. Religion and economics let Japan and Europe flourish, increasing the influence of Christianity and essentiality of merchants in Europe, and the significance of Buddhism and trade in Japan. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ In Medieval Times, pastors had a great influence on society. Pastors, according to thefinertimes.com, “interacted with the commoners on a daily basis.” Priests taught in schools because they excelled in literature. They listened to confessions...
Words: 698 - Pages: 3
...Buddhism and Confucianism have both been adopted by citizens and governments alike. However, it is important to understand that Confucianism is a philosophy while Buddhism is a religion. Both of these have been adopted by nations such as China, Japan, and Korea because of their main schools of thought, and because of their applicability to state problems. Buddhism aims to attain Nirvana, which effectively breaks the cycle of birth and rebirth that brings with it the karma gained from the past life. On the other hand, Confucianism is a philosophy that is more oriented towards having a society that is structured and orderly. Taking these two side by side, the Chinese, Japanese, and Korean governments have used their principles to guide their...
Words: 410 - Pages: 2
...Content 1. Introduction 4 2. Religion 4 2.1 Christianity in Singapore 4 2.2 Buddhism in China 5 2.3 Common and distinguish 6 3. Language 6 4. Custom 7 5. Conclusion 7 1. Introduction Technology to make the world exchange information more frequently. One developed and famous country can attract people from different countries into. People have dreams to make more money and a better life came to the country. It certainly will increase the communicating across cultures opportunities and impact in across cultures. Singapore is a typical example. Cross-cultures refers to the globalization, social mobility increased and ethnically mixed by a kind of social phenomenon. This phenomenon will change tradition and create new culture. Singapore has gathered Chinese, Malay, Indian and so on the different culture. We should to cultural differences or conflict cultural phenomenon, customs, habits to have sufficient and correct understanding, and on this basis to include attitude to accept and adaptive. I introduce the detail about across cultures when I stay at Singapore and some in Thailand tourism experiences. It includes religion, language and custom. 2. Religion 2.1 Christianity in Singapore Singapore is a multiethnic and multicultural immigrant society, thus collected the world many religions. Christianity is a popular religion in Singapore. It is the second largest religion in Singapore, with large numbers of believers. I used to belong to a team of Christ...
Words: 1386 - Pages: 6
...scared leader. As the classical era in time declined, religion stepped in to focus on emphasising life, spirit and divine help. The government suffered with the issue of secrecy and uncertainty. Since the world relied solely on the promises the government made to its people, followers began to quickly drift to different religions to seek a sense of security and trust. With the people questioning their government, Christianity, Buddhism, and Islam became known as the three world religions. Each making a major impact on society, religion sometimes impacted the government in different ways. Religion took the power from the government which allowed them to blossom successfully, therefore, causing world religions to have a major impact on society everywhere. Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam all began when people felt as though they had no more guidance or...
Words: 509 - Pages: 3
...Theravada Buddhism Angela Dodd REL/133 03/14/2016 Melissa Singer Theravada Buddhism Buddhism is one of the oldest and most influential religions in the world. It has had a great impact on an array of societies in eastern cultures. Buddhism began in India from the experience of one person originally named Siddhartha, who later became known as Buddha. It can be said that religion can help people to grasp and understand reality better. It can give inspiration to people and bring them together as one. Buddhism is one of the many religions today that can be said to have influenced many people. What is Buddhism? Buddhism is a path of practice and spiritual development leading to Insight into the true nature of reality. Buddhists practice what is called meditation which is a means of changing yourself in a way to develop the qualities of awareness, kindness, and wisdom. The experience developed within the Buddhist tradition of meditation a path which ultimately culminates to enlightenment. Those that practice Buddhism see the nature of reality clearly, just as it is, and live fully and naturally following that vision. Since Buddhism does not include the idea of worshipping a creator, or God, some people do not see it as a religion in the normal, Western sense. The fundamental Buddhist teachings are straightforward and practical; nothing is permanent; actions have consequences, and change is possible. Buddhism adheres itself to all people regardless of race, nationality, class, sexuality...
Words: 767 - Pages: 4
...I. Modern Buddhism is a resilient religion that differs much from modern Seventh-Day Adventists; but, there are some similarities between the two religions. II. History of Buddhism A. Buddhism originated in northern India in the 5th century B.C.E 1. . Buddhism is an offshoot of Hinduism and is a ‘Dharmic’ religion. a. The (Buddhism) tradition traces its origin to Siddhartha Gautama (or Gotama), who is typically referred to as the Buddha (literally the "Awakened" or "Enlightened One"). i. Siddhartha observed the suffering in the world and set out to find an antidote. ii. Through meditation and analysis, he attained an enlightened state of being that marked the end of attachments (and therefore suffering), and ultimately, upon his death, release from the cycle of rebirth (samsara). b. The Buddhist canon consists of a vast corpus of texts that cover philosophical, devotional, and monastic matters. 2. There are currently three major branches of the tradition — the Theravada ("Doctrine of the Elders"), the Mahayana ("Great Vehicle), and the Vajrayana ("Diamond Vehicle," often simply called "Tibetan Buddhism") B. Concept of deity(s) and Practices 1. Instead of deities, Devas or celestial beings are accepted as those suffering in the samsara. 2. Buddhists practice Threefold Training: Morality, Concentration...
Words: 866 - Pages: 4