The Misconceptions That People Have about Buddhism Religion - Research Paper Example

? Report on Religious Field Research Introduction Buddhism is one among the many religions that exists in the world. The roots of Buddhism can be traced from India where this religion has incorporated the teachings traditional beliefs and customs of the Indians, which were offered by Siddhartha Gautama, popularly known as Buddha. He offered these teachings in the eastern India in 4th and 6th centuries. Buddha teachings were inclined more on the knowledge and appreciation of dependent origin of human kind and with efforts to eliminate ignorance among people. He therefore shared his views which help human beings and how human suffering can be eradicated (Christopher, 2000). This discussion is meant to investigate and discuss the misconceptions that people have about Buddhism religion. It will further, analyze the prior understanding about this religion, and if misconceptions about other people’s religion are common Buddhism exists in two different factions, Theravada, which is referred as school of elders and Mahayana. Theravada is found in Sri Lanka on the South-eastern side Asia and Mahayana is on the Eastern side of Asia. However, Buddhism is highly concentrated in Asia; it is scantly found in other parts of the world. The teachings of Buddhism differ in the kind on the course of freedom. The main teachings are on the dependent initiation and no self. The basis of this religion is the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. Association with any of those courses is an indication of being a Buddhist (Christopher, 2000). Misconceptions of Buddhism religion Buddhist is pagans Pagan is a term used to refer to people who do not ascribe to God commonly accepted by the Christian God. Buddhist on their part does not relate themselves to God or gods. Instead, Buddhist relates their faith to Dharma, which is not an idol. Buddhist concerns itself about the truth. Conversely, to other religion when an negative eventuality occur, Buddhist will not raise question as to such, this is because Buddhist do not belief in supreme being like the other religion that believe that there is a supernatural power that have control over everything. Buddhist concerns themselves with appreciation of happenings that take place in ones in life (Kuo, 2008). Idea of Reincarnation This misconception is appreciable. For instance, Tibetans Buddhists holds the belief of being born again and in different class of life higher than the one a person occupied before he died. There is a misconception, which might lure a person to believing Tibetan Buddhism symbolizes Buddhism in entirety. Shin Buddhist appreciate the belief of reincarnation in the same way as other people believe in their god but the difference is they do not give it much thought. The common ground of all Buddhist is concern about the truth, which exists in nature, and people ought to appreciate (Kuo, 2008). Kuo ( 2008) argues that Buddhist appreciate anguish, the argument behind this is the perception that Buddhist stands for the truth and honesty. Suffering is a common thing in nature, and the truth about this should not be dispelled in the minds of human beings. Lack of appreciation of this belief is seen by Buddhist as escapism. Buddhists do not appreciate suffering as an opportunity to learn through encounters. Further, to the Buddhist suffering is seen as a positive phenomenon that a person should experience in order to learn from it. Buddhist dressing in robes is another misconception. This is attributed to the time of the Hare Krishna a faction that was very evident. In the 70s and 80s when this faction used to be in many places that it was very simple to identify them in their robes. Most of the American may have been lured into believing that the Faction of the Hare Krishna was Buddhists. While the Buddhists, Tibetan monks and the priests wear robes during religious ceremonies, the other followers of the religion wear normal clothes. Buddhist is a unique religion in that it encourages meditation. The forms of meditation one may involve in depend on a person volition and not coercion or condition of Buddhism. For instance, the faction of Shin Buddhist can meditate even for ten minutes while seated. Though some of meditations are gruelling, the idea behind this is to accomplish the appreciation of nature, which is a common thing for all Buddhists (Kuo, 2008). Analysis of the Understanding of Buddhism Buddhism is a religion that concerns itself on the truth of the happenings in nature. The argument of the Buddhists and the nature of this religion have a wide disparity with other kinds of religion. Most of the religions in the world, belief in a supreme being who has super natural powers of anything and everything that happens in life. Religions like Christianity and Islam belief in God, who is the controller and reins the world and nature in its entirety. This religions also hold the belief that God is omnipresent, which means that he is everywhere all the time. As a result, those who ascribe to the faith of Islam or Christianity the occasionally question God in the event a negative thing happen to them. To the contrary and as already seen Buddhists take such an event as a positive thing and as a chance to impart knowledge in humankind concerning nature. On the other hand, Islam and Christianity always attribute a positive thing as a blessing from God and not under the control of nature. Conversely, Buddhist attribute positive things to nature, people should therefore appreciate the reality that nature has both positive and negative things and the control of the same is nature given (Vyhmeister, 2008). Buddhist also belief in reincarnation, they hold the belief that once a person dies he or she will be born again in a higher class. They therefore see death as reality of the nature and not a bad thing to happen and after death, one’s life will be better than life prior to death. This belief is not given much weight in the teachings of Buddhism. On the other hand, Christians and Muslims belief in the existence of life after death and the teachings of these two religions insist that whatever the acts and character of a person hold in this world will have impact on life after death. It therefore upon the followers to subject their actions to the sanctions of these religion if they wish and aspire for a good life after they die (Vyhmeister, 2008). Buddhists act of holding hands referred to as “gassho” is likened by Christians and some of the Buddhists as a request prayer but to the contrary this expression of meekness, appreciation of gratitude and measure of thanksgiving. It should not be seen as a desire to anything. Most of the religions have certain things in common and mostly the belief and reliance of a supreme being. For instance, Christianity and Islam hold this view. The misconceptions are therefore common due reason of the existence of Supreme Being and other reasons such as Buddhist holds much weight to the issue of reincarnation which is a misconception that holding hands of Buddhists is a sign of praying. Another common misconception is that the period of meditation by Buddhists should be long (Christopher, 2000). Different people in different societies ascribe to different faith and teachings of their religions. Despite the fact that some of the religion may far much inferior than others, it is important to demonstrate respect and acknowledge existence of those beliefs. Failure to do this may be an advent of chaos in the society. In an effort to do this, some of the things that an individual should do include and not limited to what is outlined below: An individual should appreciate that you have background information on other individuals’ way of life and the prejudice that are likely to befall. Understanding the information of other people ways of life is an initiation of the eradication of the misconceptions. Endeavour to involve in discussion that are likely to bring about transformations of what others hold (Christopher, 2000). It is important for person committed to changing the stereotype ideologies of a particular religion to be a member of a support group. A group that is advocating for changes will help other people to transform their interpersonal behaviours and ideas they hold which largely may be stereotype. After acquiring information, it is possible to share it with other people and this may result to change of their previous position on other people’s religion. Challenge illogical ideas and beliefs, an idea that is viable should be based on facts and information. Unfounded information should be disregarded as a source for guiding a person mind. A person should ensure that he or she is exposed. This will help one to update information that there is at disposal. Several people rely on rumours, which they do not consider to verify as to its authenticity (Christopher, 2000). Conclusion Buddhism unlike other religions teachings, informs its followers on dependent information. The teachings of Buddhists are about the reality that exists in nature based on traditions beliefs and custom of Indians. Buddhism does not concern itself on existence of Supreme Being. According to the Buddhists, whatever happens in the world is as a result nature. These teachings encourage and take suffering positively and as a way of learning. References Christopher, S. (2000). Engaged Buddhism in the West. London: Wisdom Publications. Kuo, C. T. (2008). Religion And Democracy In Taiwan. Taiwan: Suny Press. Vyhmeister, N. J. (2008). Quality Research Papers: For Students of Religion and Theology. Michigan: Zondavan, Grand, Rapids. Read More