Reasons for and against Misconceptions of Buddhism - Research Paper Example

? MISCONCEPTIONS OF BUDDHISM al affiliation 2nd March 0 Introduction Buddhism is a religion that involves a diversity of traditions, beliefs and practices which are highly based on teachings attributed to Buddha. Scholars are hesitant to make unqualified claims about the historical facts of the Buddha's life. Most accept that he lived, taught and instituted a monastic order but all is not steadily accepted in all the details. Rebirth refers to a procedure whereby beings go over a series of lifetimes as single or many probable forms of perceptive life, each consecutively from conception to death. When it comes to religions, people are often guided by misconceptions and wrong beliefs. The way in which everybody understands and comprehends religious texts and traditions leads to the movement of all these misconceptions. For many years, Buddhism has suffered a number of misconceptions regarding its traditions, beliefs and practices. Among the misconceptions include the three ways of life, practices and beliefs (Nielsen, 2004). 2.0 Misconceptions of Buddhism. Buddhism is termed to be a pagan religion that involves worship of many gods rather than one accepted Christian God. There is also a misconception that Buddhists believe in reincarnation. It is termed that all Buddhists welcome suffering in their lives; they believe that when one suffers or is poor, then she/ he is regarded as a sincere Buddhist. All Buddhists in the world are to wear robes as part of their clothing. This is a misconception. Another misconception about Buddhism is that Buddhists must endure gruelling meditations in their entire life. Majority of people perceive that when Buddhist faithful put their hands together and bow their heads they are praying for a good fortune to come to their lives. It is stated that in America, members of ‘shin Buddhism’ are only Japanese and if not it is for Japanese- American citizens only (Tudge, 2002). Another misconception is a reflection on the appearance of a Buddhist, where a Buddha, is believed to be a Chinese monk who is a fat guy, and are always bald (shaving their heads completely), leaving no sign of any hair on their heads). All Buddhists in the world are said to be vegetarians, taking only vegetables as part of their diets. One of the wide misconceptions about Buddhism among the Buddhists is that all of them meditate more often and always, and they do so while sitting in full lotus. The Buddhists believe that all roads lead to the same mountain tops -but Buddhism is termed as the clear route to the top of the mountain (Nielsen, 2004). Majority of people think and believe that Buddhists live in monasteries as either monks or lay people who are secluded from the rest of the people. It is believed that one must be a monk or a lay nun to get enlightened. From the strange behaviours, beliefs and dressing, a misconception has been raised that Buddhists are Idol worshippers. The respect that they give Dalai Lama leads to misconception that Dalai Lama is the head of Buddhism. The social and interaction among individuals and Buddhists have led to a misconception that Buddhism is a pessimistic religion, an illusion created, and Buddhist behaviour is a dreadful one; serious individuals who don’t wear any kind of make-up, and in most cases they do not leisure at all. The Buddhism religion is termed as one that is boring and rigid that does not allow its faithful to desire any kind of earthly thing such as engaging in sports. The last misconception is that Buddhism is a reformation or upgrade of Hinduism (Tudge, 2002). 3.0 Reasons for and against misconceptions of Buddhism Buddhism is not a pagan religion just because Buddhists don’t concern themselves about God or gods; they put their concerns on ‘Dharma’ who is not a god or gods but the truth or reality. Their belief in reincarnation is true as the majority of the sects in Buddhism believe in reincarnation in the same way Christians do in God. The misconceptions of the Buddhism of welcoming suffering to their lives, is partially true and false. They believe that when they suffer, it becomes an opportunity to learn and grow, but they also discourage any kind of suffering as they term it as a way that makes the individual’s soul to suffer (Nielsen, 2004). The misconception that all Buddhists wear robes is partially true. In the shin Buddhism, ministers are the ones who wear robes during worship service, while other members of the temple or the faithful simply wear normal casual clothes. The misconceptions that when Buddhists put their hands together and bow their heads they are praying for good fortune, is not true for by doing so, they are not praying but demonstrating an expression of humility and gratitude. The misconceptions that shin Buddhism in America is for Japanese or Japanese- Americas only is purely understandable as songs sung during ministry and sermons are Japanese and members are typically Japanese- American. Shaving of hair by Buddhists is a sign of being a monk or a nun. Not all Buddhists are vegetarians; half are vegan, while the other half regularly consume meat with some limitations (Tudge, 2002). Desire does not last; or if it does, it turns out to be uninteresting. Even when we are not suffering from external sources like illness or grief, we are unfulfilled, discontented. This is the fact of suffering. Some people who meet this teaching might find it doubtful. Buddhists find it neither positive nor pessimistic, but genuine. Auspiciously, the Buddha's teachings do not finale with suffering; rather, they go on to express to us what we can do about it and in what manner to end it. Our day-to-day troubles may seem to have easily recognizable causes: thirst, pain from a grievance, sadness from the loss of a prized one. In the second of his Noble Truths, though, the Buddha demanded to have found the source of all suffering - and it is amply more genuinely rooted than our direct worries. The Buddha trained that the root of all suffering is craving (Tudge, 2002). Meditation is a practice that is done by Buddhists as a normal practice, as prayer to Christians; however, while meditating, not all faithful sit in full lotus. The conception of being enlightened by being a monk or lay person is not true, as there are reports of lay people from other traditions or religions that have attained enlightenment. The misconception of Buddhists as idol worshippers is not true as they do not use statues much, and do not worship them at all. Dalai Lama is identified as a spiritual leader but not the leader of the church. Buddhism is not a reformation of Hinduism as there is a sharp contrast in beliefs and practices for example, sacrificing animals. The last misconception that: Buddhists are not allowed to desire anything or wear any kind of cosmetics is not true as they can play any game they wish to participate in and wear any kind of cosmetics if they wish to do so(Nielsen, 2004). 4.0 Facts on why other people’s religions misconceptions are common. I do believe that there exist misconceptions over other religions and this has become a common phenomenon among different individuals or persons. This is because of a number of reasons. Some of the religions are imports or new social order from other countries or regions. They were either brought by the migrants settling in a particular area, who have continued to extend their tenets without involving or making the inhabitants aware, or practice by owning the entire practices. The individuals from the region, who are side-lined, begin or start sending misconceptions about the religion. Majority of faithful of a particular religion believe that theirs is the true and supreme religion over the others; as a result they send negative misconceptions about other religions so as to degrade or devalue them (Tudge, 2002). These facts about religion are often misunderstood or are spoken of in an incorrect manner. So, several myths about religions exist, affecting the mode in which individuals identify it and live their lives. One common misconception is that decent religious faithful attend worships on a very consistent basis. In fact, the belief in God can exist on a very individual and friendly concern. Though persons are stimulated to be part of the religious community and society, they are not indebted to participate. Forgiveness is another aspect of religion that often is misinterpreted. Some have faith that all sinners will be saved because forgiveness is a key trait of religion. This belief is incorrect (Tudge, 2002). Pledging sins and waiting for forgiveness is certainly not satisfactory. Other religions still have out-dated or historical practices, beliefs and functions that are not easy to comprehend or easily understood. Such example of practices and functions bring out misconceptions. Other practices and functions are done in seclusion, which raises eyebrows of what is happening thus creating misconceptions about what is purposed to be happening. The coming up of different sects has led to numerous misconceptions with spiritual leaders, ministers trying to win more followers or faithful to their own sects. When it comes to Christianity, people are often led by misconceptions and mistaken beliefs. The style in which everyone takes and understands Christian texts and experiences leads to the passage of all these misconceptions. Christianity is frequently blamed of things that have never been linked to it. Sometimes, these myths are disseminated by error, other times evil plans are to blame. What are the evidences around Christianity and which entitlements remain virtuously imaginary? (Nielsen, 2004). 5.0 Recommendations to minimize misconceptions about other people’s religions The main and key step to minimize misconceptions of other people’s religions is by using religious education or religious teachings to empower people with knowledge on religions. The education curriculum on religion should have an integrative curriculum containing all religious sects, beliefs, practices and worship. The students should also be asked, as part of their practical, to attend worship sessions of different religions. The readers and scholars will be exposed and made aware of what is happening in other religions and by doing so it will be discouraging misconceptions about other religions. It turns out that even the most devoted of religious persons are regularly tangled about the religion, the main Christian occasions and religious teachings. It takes a lot of interpretation and analysis to treasure out where the reality lies. This is true in terms of both individual behavior and the history of Christianity. We all need to study a lot when it comes to religion. Often, the fiction is much tougher and more prevalent than the facts. In general, it is the misconceptions of the people which are only based on myths, unexplained facts about religion, which can only be explained by using appropriate channels like education to make individuals to be aware and appreciate certain religions (Tudge, 2002) References Nielsen, F. (2004), Theories and practices of religious studies, Smallville: United Kingdom, Hodderpublishers,. Tudge, C. (2002) The religious mode of Life.Brigham: United Kingdom, Oxford University Press. Read More