BUDDHISM

Buddhism

Buddhism

The religion that attracted me is “Buddhism” and in order to have its knowledge I visited a place of worship and interviewed Mr. Monk (real identity kept hidden) who belongs to the Buddhism faith.

What are the Beginnings of Buddhism?

Buddhism is one of the globe's most significant and oldest religions. It has spread through almost all of Asia, influencing the many cultures there, and is now gaining followers in the West. But it had its started in India and arose from the understanding of one person. (Mitchell, 2002)

What are the Basic Teachings of Buddhism?

It is not possible to identify what precisely the Buddha taught. He never wrote his experience, nor did his early on followers. We must rely on the basic trustworthiness of both the oral traditions and the many written texts that pass on his teachings.

The written teachings that have come down to us are in a number of languages, all of which differ from the language (apparently a variation of Magadhi) spoken by the Buddha. One of the most important languages through which Buddhist teachings have been passed down is Pali, a language related to Sanskrit; another is Sanskrit itself—often called the Latin of India because of its widespread use in earlier years for scholarly works. (Carter, 2000)

At the core of what is generally regarded as basic Buddhism are the Three Jewels (Sanskrit: Triratna; Pali: Tiratana)—that is, the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha. Buddhist doctrines are not meant to be accepted on blind faith; rather, it is up to each individual to experience them first as truths before accepting them.

What are the Early Development of Buddhism?

Buddhism might have remained an entirely Indian religion, much as Jainism has, if it were not for an energetic king named Ashoka, who flourished about 250 B.C.E. Ashoka's plan to expand his rule over a large part of India naturally entailed much fighting. After a particularly bloody battle in eastern India, as Ashoka was inspecting the battlefield, he saw the scene very differently than he had before. The whole experience was so horrifying that Ashoka converted to the ideal of nonviolence. Although it is uncertain whether Ashoka became a Buddhist, he did make political use of Buddhist moral values. A cynic might note that forbidding violence is a practical move for any ruler who wishes to remain on the throne. In any case, the principle of nonviolence is most effective when it is embraced widely; otherwise, the few people who are nonviolent will be preyed upon by the violent. (Conze, 2005)

Are there any Branches of Buddhism?

Yes but people who follow a specific Buddhist path are often not aware of other branches. The same is not true of some other religions, in which practitioners are quite aware of the division to which they belong. (For example, Muslims define themselves as Sunni or Shiite, and Christians as Protestant, Catholic, or Orthodox.) But Buddhist believers of one branch, even if they know of other forms, generally do not define themselves in contrast to those other ...