Buddhism
560 BC
![Picture](/uploads/6/0/5/9/60596147/127165516.jpg?259)
Buddhism Overview: Buddhism is a religion based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama known as the Buddha. Like nearly all religions it is comprised of a variety of beliefs, traditions and practices. Many people think of Buddhism as a path of liberation that can be achieved through insight into the ultimate nature of reality. When people of this faith find liberation they find they are one with their god.
The Essence of Buddha's Teachings:
Most Buddhist scholars believe that Buddha's core teachings boil down to avoiding harming others and helping them as much as possible. This frequently quoted verse sums it all up:
Abandon negative action;
Create perfect virtue;
Subdue your own mind.
This is the teaching of the Buddha.
Noble Eight-Fold Path:
The Noble Eight-Fold Path is one of Buddha's teachings. Buddhists claim that it leads to the cessation of suffering - known as dukkha - and the achievement of self-awakening.
1. Know the truth
2. Say nothing to hurt others
3. Practice meditation
4. control your thoughts
5. Resist Evil
6. Free your mind of evil
7. Work for the good of others
8. Respect life
7 Elements of Buddhism:
Experiential: Enlightenment, Nirvana.
Mythical: Biography of the Buddha, stories and descriptions of the bodhisattvas.
Doctrinal: Middle way, Three Marks of Existence, Four Noble Truths.
Ethical: Fiver Precepts, Ideal compassion.
Ritual: Mahayana acts of religious devotion and prayer to the bodhisatt.
Social: Sagha, figure of arhat, Dalai Lama.
Material: Bodhi tree, mandalas.
Buddha- Man vs. Symbol:
One of the most unique characteristics about the Buddhism religion is that the term "Buddha" can refer to both a historical person and as an achievable goal of enlightenment.
Siddhartha Gautama (Man): He is known commonly as The Buddha, he is believed to have lived and taught in the northeastern region of the Indian subcontinent between the 6th and 4th Centuries BC. He is recognized by his followers as an awakened teacher who shared his knowledge to help end the suffering of humans, achieve nirvana and escape what is seen as the cycle of suffering and rebirth.
Buddha (Symbol): The word "Buddha" literally means " awakened one" in Sanskrit a language spoken in India". The term "Buddha" is more than the historical name of the man. "Buddha" is seen as an ideal of enlightenment and as a symbol of wisdom, compassion and absolute reality. What's commonly unknown is that anyone can become a "Buddha". Indeed, a "Buddha" is someone who has realized the enlightenment that ends the cycle of birth and death and which brings liberation from suffering.
The 3 Schools of Buddhism Faith:
There is disagreement among scholars and theologians as to how many schools or traditions of Buddhism really exist today. While some Buddhists tend to classify themselves into as either Theravada or Mahayana, there is growing argument to include Vajrayana Buddhism as well.
Although there are differences between these three major schools of Buddhism, there are also many common beliefs. They are:
Mahayana Buddhism: Mahayana Buddhism began to jump start in India during the fifth century AD. During this time centers of learning were created, the most famous being Nalanda University. One distinguishing characteristic of Mahayana Buddhism is that it recognizes all of the Mahayana Sutras. These are a very broad genre of Buddhist scriptures which members of Mahayana Buddhism believe are the original teachings of Buddha. Theravada Buddhists and Vajrayana Buddhists claim that the Mahayana Sutras were not taught by Buddha, but are later compositions.
Vajrayana Buddhism: Vajrayana Buddhism is the newest of the three major Buddhist Schools coming into form around the sixth or seventh century. From India, it spread to China, Mongolia and Tibet. In China, Vajrayana became obsolete, but several characteristics of the religion continued on in other religious traditions. It flourished in Tibet, where it is the main form of Buddhism. What separates Vajrayana Buddhism from the other two main schools of Buddhism is its emphasis on ritual. Instead of meditation, Vajrayana Buddhists perform rituals that they believe leads to enlightenment.
Dalai Lama: Tenzin Gyatso, serves as the 14th Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of the people of Tibet. He was born on July 6, 1935 to a peasant farming family in northeastern Tibet. Gyatso, originally born Lhamo Donrub, was recognized as the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama at age two. In order to confirm his identity, Tibetan monks tested Gyatso by asking him to identify certain articles of clothing that belonged to the 13th Dalai Lama. He passed the series of tests, then changed his name, took the throne at age four and became a monk at age six.His Holiness won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for his work in advocating for nonviolent means to liberate Tibet from China. Here is a quote from the Dalai Lama, "In order to carry a positive action we must develop here a positive vision."
The Essence of Buddha's Teachings:
Most Buddhist scholars believe that Buddha's core teachings boil down to avoiding harming others and helping them as much as possible. This frequently quoted verse sums it all up:
Abandon negative action;
Create perfect virtue;
Subdue your own mind.
This is the teaching of the Buddha.
Noble Eight-Fold Path:
The Noble Eight-Fold Path is one of Buddha's teachings. Buddhists claim that it leads to the cessation of suffering - known as dukkha - and the achievement of self-awakening.
1. Know the truth
2. Say nothing to hurt others
3. Practice meditation
4. control your thoughts
5. Resist Evil
6. Free your mind of evil
7. Work for the good of others
8. Respect life
7 Elements of Buddhism:
Experiential: Enlightenment, Nirvana.
Mythical: Biography of the Buddha, stories and descriptions of the bodhisattvas.
Doctrinal: Middle way, Three Marks of Existence, Four Noble Truths.
Ethical: Fiver Precepts, Ideal compassion.
Ritual: Mahayana acts of religious devotion and prayer to the bodhisatt.
Social: Sagha, figure of arhat, Dalai Lama.
Material: Bodhi tree, mandalas.
Buddha- Man vs. Symbol:
One of the most unique characteristics about the Buddhism religion is that the term "Buddha" can refer to both a historical person and as an achievable goal of enlightenment.
Siddhartha Gautama (Man): He is known commonly as The Buddha, he is believed to have lived and taught in the northeastern region of the Indian subcontinent between the 6th and 4th Centuries BC. He is recognized by his followers as an awakened teacher who shared his knowledge to help end the suffering of humans, achieve nirvana and escape what is seen as the cycle of suffering and rebirth.
Buddha (Symbol): The word "Buddha" literally means " awakened one" in Sanskrit a language spoken in India". The term "Buddha" is more than the historical name of the man. "Buddha" is seen as an ideal of enlightenment and as a symbol of wisdom, compassion and absolute reality. What's commonly unknown is that anyone can become a "Buddha". Indeed, a "Buddha" is someone who has realized the enlightenment that ends the cycle of birth and death and which brings liberation from suffering.
The 3 Schools of Buddhism Faith:
There is disagreement among scholars and theologians as to how many schools or traditions of Buddhism really exist today. While some Buddhists tend to classify themselves into as either Theravada or Mahayana, there is growing argument to include Vajrayana Buddhism as well.
Although there are differences between these three major schools of Buddhism, there are also many common beliefs. They are:
- All accept the Buddha as their teacher
- All accept the Middle Way, the Four Noble Truths, the Nobel Eightfold Path, and the Three Marks of Existence in theory. However, in practice these have more importance in some schools than others.
- All believe that regular people can achieve enlightenment.
- All consider "buddhahood" to be the highest attainment.
Mahayana Buddhism: Mahayana Buddhism began to jump start in India during the fifth century AD. During this time centers of learning were created, the most famous being Nalanda University. One distinguishing characteristic of Mahayana Buddhism is that it recognizes all of the Mahayana Sutras. These are a very broad genre of Buddhist scriptures which members of Mahayana Buddhism believe are the original teachings of Buddha. Theravada Buddhists and Vajrayana Buddhists claim that the Mahayana Sutras were not taught by Buddha, but are later compositions.
Vajrayana Buddhism: Vajrayana Buddhism is the newest of the three major Buddhist Schools coming into form around the sixth or seventh century. From India, it spread to China, Mongolia and Tibet. In China, Vajrayana became obsolete, but several characteristics of the religion continued on in other religious traditions. It flourished in Tibet, where it is the main form of Buddhism. What separates Vajrayana Buddhism from the other two main schools of Buddhism is its emphasis on ritual. Instead of meditation, Vajrayana Buddhists perform rituals that they believe leads to enlightenment.
Dalai Lama: Tenzin Gyatso, serves as the 14th Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of the people of Tibet. He was born on July 6, 1935 to a peasant farming family in northeastern Tibet. Gyatso, originally born Lhamo Donrub, was recognized as the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama at age two. In order to confirm his identity, Tibetan monks tested Gyatso by asking him to identify certain articles of clothing that belonged to the 13th Dalai Lama. He passed the series of tests, then changed his name, took the throne at age four and became a monk at age six.His Holiness won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for his work in advocating for nonviolent means to liberate Tibet from China. Here is a quote from the Dalai Lama, "In order to carry a positive action we must develop here a positive vision."
Photos used under Creative Commons from Ashwin KC, R. S., symphony of love, Christopher.Michel, Chindit76