...One of the major ideas expressed in Buddhism is that of the Three Gems. These Gems consist of: the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha. The Three Gems are clearly expressed in three of Ninian Smart’s dimensions of religion and are also interlocking. The first Gem, The Buddha, fulfills Ninian’s described mythological dimension. The next Gem, the Dharma, expresses the doctrinal dimension. Finally, the third Gem, the Sangha, deals with the social dimension. The first Gem, the Buddha, can clearly be categorized under the mythological dimension of religion. This Gem consists of stories of the life cycles of Shakyamuni, who is the Buddha of the current era. Most of the stories however focus on the life cycle of Siddartha, in which the bodhisattva(one who has dedicated himself to achieving Buddhahood) actually achieves enlightenment and becomes Buddha Shakyamuni(Oxtoby/Segal p377). The stories explain how, “Siddhartha travels the path from a vow to seek enlightenment, to its attainment, to the teaching of others how to follow that path”(Buddhism Lecture One, Week Four). These stories and legends are considered mythological as they are not scripture for Buddhists, and they are not a direct biography of Buddha Shakyamuni’s life, yet they serve the purpose to outline a path for other Buddhists to follow to reach enlightenment (Introduction Lecture, Week One). According to Ninian Smart, “… we shall include stories relating to significant historical events under the head of the mythological...
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...Marian University Final Paper Alex Ghattas Asian Religions Mr.Gides April 30th, 2013 Buddhism is one of the largest and most well known pantheistic religions today. In this paper, I will argue that the Eight Garudhammas are controversial because they attempt to push women into an inferior role, and since men are equal to women in the Buddhism, why must they complete these extra tasks. First I will review the Eight Garudhammas, then I will show findings how some Buddhists, especially those of Theravada, believe the Eight Garudhammas are not really teachings of Buddha. Finally I will compare and talk about the differences of becoming ordained as a man or woman in Buddhism. The Eight Garudhammas date back to 1000 of years ago, which are the eight heavy rules which bhikkhunis (nuns) must follow in order to become fully ordained. Since these “rules” date back so many years and also from a different language, the translations have changed over the years. The Eight Garudhammas are as follows: 1. A nun who has been ordained even for a hundred years must greet respectfully, rise up from her seat, salute with joined palms, do proper homage to a monk ordained but that day, 2. A nun must not spend the rains in a residence where there are no monks, 3. Every half month a nun should desire two things from the Order of Monks : the asking as to the date of the Observance day, and the coming for the exhortation (bhikkhunovada), 4. After the rains a nun must 'invite' before...
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...true nature of reality. Buddhist practices like meditation are means of changing yourself 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 Buddha hood. An enlightened being sees the nature of reality absolutely clearly, just as it is, and lives fully and naturally in accordance with that vision. This is the goal of the Buddhist spiritual life, representing the end of suffering for anyone who attains it. 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. So Buddhism addresses itself to all people irrespective of race, nationality, caste, sexuality, or gender. It teaches practical methods which enable people to realize and use its teachings in order to transform their experience, to be fully responsible for their lives. The Buddha was born Siddhartha Gautama, a prince of the Sakya tribe of Nepal, in approximately 566 BC. 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...
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...asceticism, the practice of severe self-discipline. After seeing the uselessness of asceticism, Gautama turned to meditation. In this state he realized a life of moderation would lead to happiness. His teaching included the Four Nobel Truths as described in The Humanities Culture, Continuity & Change by Henry Sayre. 1. Life is suffering. 2. Suffering has a cause, which is ignorance. 3. Ignorance can be overcome and eliminated. 4. The way to overcome this ignorance is by following the Eightfold Path or right view, right resolve, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness and right concentration. In 261 BCE Ashoka, ruler of the Maurya Empire between 273 - 232 BCE, declared Buddhism as the official religion of India, his decision came shortly after viewing the bodies of the dead on a battlefield in 261 BCE. Nonviolence became Ashoka's official policy during his rule; promoting vegetarianism, denouncing the unnecessary killing of animals, built hospitals for people and animals and built over 8,400 Buddha shrines. Buddhism would spread beyond the walls of India and by 600 CE Buddhism reached Japan. Each country accepted Buddhism into their homeland, the original practice developed and took on characteristics distinct to each region. The spread of Buddhism into Southeast Asia was made largely possible by the Silk Road. India Buddhist missionaries helped to spread the ideology of Buddhism into China and Korea where it became quickly accepted...
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...Kuatzhan Fariza 20151606 UFE B 14.11.15 Reflection on the past week activities and my progress For me the previous week was very hard and interesting. And this week past very quickly. On Mondays and Wednesdays every week I visit ALS studio. On the English club we discussed topic about religion and to be more clear about Buddhism. This religion originated in India in the 4th century,the founder had 4 names: Siddhartha,Gautama,Buddha and Shakyamuni. Two and a half thousand years ago Buddha had a unique opportunity to teach: he lived in the heyday of the civilization of Northern India and was surrounded by very gifted students. This gave him the opportunity for 45 years to show beings the path to full disclosure of the mind, which was manifested in the variety of their funds. The questions why and what he teaches, the Buddha answered: "I teach because you and all beings want to be happy and want to avoid the pain. I teach to how everything is - things as they are." The same time to approach the Buddha's teaching is free from too rigid a conception, for the fullness of his wisdom cannot be described as "not this". With Nicholas, we discussed about beauty pageants for children. Every year in America are baby beauty completions. Crazy parents in pursuit of happiness precious child, begin serious training for many months. Unique dresses and suits for thousands of dollars, false eyelashes and nails. Professional children's make-up artists...
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...Buddhism was constructed in the late 6th century.Siddhartha Gautama (the "Buddha") is the founder of buddhism. This religion is important in most of asha. It has been formed into many different forms. The Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama) was born in 563 B.C.E.in a plase called Lumbini near the Himalayan foothills . After Siddhartha Gautama passed away, the community he founded slowly evolved into a religion like movement and the teachings of Siddhartha became the basis of Buddhism. In this last few decades the buddhists have been training outside of asha and into other areas of the world. I think one of the most important figures of this religion is the creator Siddhartha Gautama. He is also known the buddha he was son of royalty . His father,...
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...Buddhism has undergone many changes since it was founded by Indian Prince Siddhartha Gautama in a variety of ways and for a variety of reasons. Change has occurred within the belief system and surrounding the Buddhist faith, and has been typically seen as evolutionary as the main the foundations of the faith, including the teachings of the Dharma (doctrine), the Four Noble Truths, the five precepts and the Noble Eightfold Path, have been central to the faith regardless of any changes undertaken. Other constants accepted by the majority of Buddhists include the concepts of impermanence, the cycle of birth and rebirth (Samsara) and the vital role of meditation. The main areas of change for Buddhism comes under the adaptation, or lack of adaptation,...
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...The famous myth of Buddha is the story of Siddhartha Gautama’s life “the great going forth” his journey and his teachings. Buddha is the founder of the religion Buddhism. Buddhist cosmogony includes the belief that the world first exist then destroyed and then recreated.“They believe that the universe as infinite in time and space and filled with infinite number of worlds like us”. As for historical developments before Buddhism spread out also, as years passed was divided to three sects and they are Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana. Some of the actors in the Buddhist mythological drama include; like Hinduism they have Brahman a supreme deva who reached out to Buddha to start teaching. Another supreme deva is Indra the God of the Hindu skies....
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...What is Buddhism? Interestingly, the first Buddha, Siddhārtha Gautama, is considered the founder of Buddhism, but the religion is not named after him. Buddha means one who has attained enlightenment, thus a religion of enlightenment, not a religion of Buddha. Since the first Buddha, there have been many others who have attained enlightenment, with the first Buddha often referred to as, Enlightened One. Soon after the Buddha’s death, the monks gathered and began to compile the Buddha’s teachings and monastic rules into what is known as the Vinaya; arguably one of the most important parts of Buddhist scripture. Like many of the world’s religions, as it spread it became more diverse and in the first century B.C.E. its first real scripture (sutras)...
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...Mencius wrote that, “the great man does not think beforehand of his words that they may be sincere, nor of his actions that they may be resolute – he simply speaks and does what is right.” I do believe this quote succinctly rounds up the events of Siddhartha Gautama’s life and innovative philosophies that gave way to the fourth most popular religion as of this year, with over 375 million members. (Infoplease.com, 2014) As the first man to reach enlightenment, the Buddha or the “Awakened One”, revolutionised India’s belief system in both his own time and subsequent ages. His new-found path to enlightenment was forged through his earnest belief and morals – not through his former social standing and reputation to effectuate reformation. Siddhartha...
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...“Wu Zetian and Buddhist Art of the Tang Dynasty” written by Patricia Karetzky provides a number of evidence that Empress Wu is a generous supporter of Buddhism and her patronage led to a splendid achievement in Buddhist art. Per my understanding, it is a Standard Textbook or Encyclopedia Entry type of article. This article does not have many references to other published work and the writer is presenting existed evidence to support his objective of the paper. He used descriptive language to tell the fact and to provided information to readers instead of bringing in his own opinion or doing deep analysis of the information he collected. The article has a very clear structure. Besides the introduction and conclusion parts, the article has three subheadings. The first one is from P114 to P116. The author talks about Buddhist activities in earlier Tang Dynasty and in Zhou. Under this section, the author also made two sub-points. One sub-point demonstrated the relationship Wu Zetian built with Buddhist monks and the Buddha images, such as Emperor Asoka she supported to build in the temple. The second sub-point illustrated that Wu Zetian also sponsored Buddhist monks on their translation activities and she involved in writing preface for these translations, such as Dayun sutra (Karetzky, 116). The second subheading is about Buddhist artistic evidence, which is from P116 to P122 and it includes three subsections, which are Empress Wu as Maitreya and the Dayunjing, Buddhist Art at...
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...Definition of Buddhism According to Cross Border Commerce, Buddhism is a religion that is centered on Siddhartha Gautama’s teachings. Gautama, the son of a wealthy landowner, was born around 560 B.C. in northern India. In order to triumph spiritual peace, he renounced is worldly advantages and became known as Buddha, or in other words; “the enlightened one.” Gautama expounded his religious views his whole life all through South Asia. Buddhism is a path of practice and spiritual development leading to insight into the true nature of reality. Buddhist practices, like meditation, are means of altering yourself in order to improve the qualities of awareness, kindness, and wisdom (Scatterlee). Summary of article “A Summary of Some of the Ideas of Siddhartha Gautama” is an article summarizing Buddhism courtesy of Peoria Buddhist Studies Group. The article begins by noting the founder and his fundamental teachings of the philosophy of Buddhism. The author Dan Dexter goes on to elaborate the teachings more effectively in the paragraphs to come. Using numbered bullets, the article’s contributor lists the religion’s eight practices of wisdom. In addition, the author noted the four foundations of Buddhism in four bullets. Discussion The chosen article by Dan Dexter relates to Cross Border Commerce’s chapter two “Aspects of Culture” and one of its key terms Buddhism. As one may know, culture is the set of collective values, goals, attitudes, and practices that depict a specific society...
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...1. Buddhism, although originating from India, was a minor Indian religion as it made it was spread to many other parts of Asia to find believers. 2. As Buddhism evolved after the death of Buddha, doctrines like bodhisattvas explained about gaining nirvana through personal meditation or aid others as a saint through prayer. 3. Buddhism evolution transformed from a series of ethics to a way of finding salvation. 4. Buddhism greatly appealed the Chinese after the fall of the Han dynasty. 5. Religious outposts for Buddhism were predominantly in the Himalayas and in northern India. 6. From China, Buddhism spread to Korea and Japan. 7. The East Asian form of Buddhism was known as Mahayana which kept most of original Buddhist beliefs, but applied...
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...population of Buddhism and Christianity. As empires decline, immense unrest befell the land. Citizens were in poverty and natural disasters were devastating. All social classes were searching for hope. They desired a better life and the happiness. Both religions promised aid in your darkest hour and a blissful afterlife, the very things desired. Heaven being the afterlife described by Christianity, and Nirvana listed by Buddhist teachings. The Human Record’s Tales of Guanshiyin (p. 178) states,”Tao suddenly remembered having once heard speak of Guanshiyin, so he now took refuge in and meditated on the Bodhisattvas with a perfect mind. The tiger at once let go, and he was able to get up.” In comparison, the gospel of Matthew 9:27-29 describes a similar miracle,” As Jesus went on from there two blind men followed him, calling out “Have mercy on us, Son of David!”... and he asked them,”Do you believe that I am able to do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they replied. Then he touched their eyes and said,”According to your faith let it be done to you”; and their sight was restored.” During this turbulent time, the people were drawn to these miracles and signs of protection. And the only requirement was an unwavering belief in the power of each respective religion. These people living in such rough times were looking not only for hope, but for explanations The Pagan concepts involving an exclusive cult with extensive initiation rituals, did not satisfy the need for explanation and profound ideas about life...
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...Jancie L. Santiago-González For my sight seeing I chose to go to the Kadampa Center in Raleigh, I part took on the Sunday Morning Meditation. Buddhism is a religion that started in India by Siddhartha Gautama, known as the Buddha or the Enlighten One. Although, the Buddha died a long time ago Buddhist still follow him, but as a reincarnation referred to as the Dalai Lama. The Lama is a Buddhist teacher referred also as Guru; this is the person that performs the meditation during the seminar. The Buddhist believe in: • Karma: one’s actions, and notion of rebirth. • Nirvana: is thought of as existence beyond limitation, enlightenment. • Four Nobel Truths: - The Nobel Truth of Suffering - The Noble Truth of The Arising of Suffering - The Noble...
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