Assignment 2: Buddhism

Assignment 2: Buddhism

Introduction

In the Eastern world, Buddhism is one of the dominant religions for centuries, particularly in Korea, Japan, China and some parts of Southern Asia. However, estimates differ between 200 and 500 million believers. In general, Buddhists are estimated to about 6% of the world's population, which makes Buddhism the fourth largest religion of the world. With increasing Asian population in Unites States, there are about 316,668,567 Buddhists in the US till July 2013 (Seager, 2013). Buddhism also remains dominate in Hawaii. This paper outlines the origin, beliefs, eightfold Path, concept of meditation, important concepts, sects, key festivals in Buddhism.

Source: Seager (2013)

Discussion

Buddhism is originated by Siddhartha Gautama to about 2500 years ago in India. Buddhism origination arose from Gautama's questioning about his luxurious life and shelter in the palace. After his exit from the palace, he witnessed four sights: a monk, a dead man, an old man and a sick man. These sights have told Gautama that despite, being a prince cannot escape suffering, poor health and death. The monk's sight are said to have told him leaving his luxurious life and leading a life of wandering holy man will bring answered to why people suffers and causes of suffering. He spent several years of his life doing religious practices, such as fasting, meditation and praying.

Siddhartha Gautama is famous as Buddha. He discovered four noble truths and three universal truths. The noble truths in Buddhism are life is full of sufferings, avoidance of pain and carving for pleasure are stems of suffering, suffering can be wiped out, and by following a middle path suffering can be ended. Universal truth asserts that everything is changing and imperative; since, nothing is eternal and based on a person or possessing that does not make a person happy, and there is no never-ending phenomenon, static soul and self is nothing but a collection of changing attributes and characteristics (Manuel, 2011).

Buddha preached that he is not a God. He showed the Middle way of life to people, and asked them to take responsibility of their actions. He has given eightfold path: right perspective and understanding based on noble truths, right attitude and value, right speech, right actions, right work, right effort, right mindfulness, and right meditation.

Mediation is one of the essential practices in Buddhism. This practice helps Buddhists in understanding teaching of Buddha and looks within selves for the truth. They look for nirvana or enlightenment by meditating. Meditation helps in achieving an inner stillness by focusing on the mind, which lead to enlightenment. In Buddhism, meditation includes a range of techniques of mediation that intend to develop insight, tranquility, supramundane powers, concentration, and mindfulness (Faure, 2011).

There are three key concepts: Nirvana, Samsara and Karma to understand Buddhism. Nirvana refers to the existence's blowing out. This concept is quite different from the Christian concept of heaven Nirvana is basically a state of being rather than heaven. The second concept in Buddhism is Samsara ...