Buddhism Essay -- Buddhism India Buddha Religion Essays

Buddhism Buddhism is the great oriental religion founded by Guatama Buddha, who lived and taught in India in the sixth century BC All Buddhists trace their faith to Buddha and "revere" his person (Frederic 15). Nearly all types of Buddhism include monastic orders whose members serve as teachers and clergy to the lay community (Maraldo 19). However, beyond these common features the numerous sects of modern Buddhism exhibit great variety in their beliefs and practices. In its oldest surviving form, known as Theravada or Hinayana. Buddhism is primarily a spiritual philosophy and system of ethics (Frederic 16). It places little or no emphasis on deities, teaching that the goal of the faithful is to achieve nirvana, a blissful state of insight and release from the bonds of the self, the world, and an endless round of births, deaths, and rebirths in successive lives (Maraldo 20). The state of spiritual perfection is achieved through the practice of humility, generosity, mercy, abstention from violence, and above all, self-control. The latter forms of Buddhism, known as Mahayana, however, often worship a pantheon of divine Buddhas and future Buddhas (Zwalf 20). Some have a elaborate hierarchies demons as well. Several varieties of Mahayana Buddhism promise the worshiper a real paradise rather than a perfected spiritual state ( Zwalf 21). Several sects emphasize faith more strongly than works. "One sec seeks to induce in the believer a jarring, intuitive, nonrational insight into true reality" (Maraldo 24). In all lands to which Buddhism has spread it has made adaptations to local conditions. For example, in Japan extreme nationalist sects have developed. Differences may be seen in Buddhist art, architecture, inconograph, ritua... ...one percent of the population) in India, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Indonesia (Frederic 46). Outside Asia, a few thousand live in North America (300,000), South America (160,000), and Europe (20,000) (Frederic 48). The total number of Buddhists in the world is not surely known; estimates vary from less than 200,000,000 to 500,000,000 (Frederic 48). Buddhism is one the major religions of the world. Buddhism is become a dominant religious, cultural , and social force in most of Asia. It has combined with elements like Hinduism. Buddhism will continue to spread out across the world. Works Cited Maraldo, John. Buddhism in the Modern World. New York: Macmillan, 1990. Zwalf, W. Buddhism Art and Faith. New York: Macmillan, 1990. Frederic, Louis. Buddhism. New York: Flammarion, 1995. Snellgrove, David. The Image of Buddha. New York: Serindia, 1991.