Buddhism Before 1850 - Essay Example

Buddhism Before 1850 Buddhism currently has about 376 million followers, making it the fourth largest religion in the world, after Christianity, Islam and Hinduism (Robinson, religioustolerance.org). It was founded in India by Siddartha Gautama, who was born in Lumbini in present-day Nepal in about 566 B.C. to King Suddodhana Gautama and Mahamaya of the Shakya clan. After living a life of luxury, insulted from the harsh realities of the real world, he suddenly encountered old age, infirmity and death.

This aroused in him a passionate urge to discover the key to overcome human suffering. At the age of 29, Siddartha renounced the life of a prince. After six years of rigorous austerity and yogic training, Siddartha attained enlightenment as he sat in meditation under a bodhi tree, becoming the Buddha, or the ‘Enlightened One,’ at the age of thirty-five (Boeree, “The Life of Siddartha Gautama”). Buddhism’s tenets, various sects, and its spread before 1850, make for interesting study.

The main tenets of Buddhism are the “three jewels”: 1.The Buddha. 2. The dharma - his teachings 3. The sangha - the community of monks. The Buddha expounds following ‘the Middle Path’ of moderation, shunning extremes. Buddhism’s ‘The Four Noble Truths,’ consist of 1. Dhukka: Life is suffering 2. Samudaya: Suffering is due to attachment 3. Nirodha: Attachment can be overcome 4. Magga: ‘The Eightfold Path,’ which is as follows: Prajna, or wisdom: 1. Samma ditthi - Right view 2.

Samma sankappa - Right aspiration 3. Samma vaca - Right speech. 4. Samma kammanta - Right action 5. Samma ajiva - Right livelihood 6. Samma vayama - Right effort 7. Samma sati - Right mindfulness 8. Samma Samadhi - Right concentration (Boeree). The three major sects of Buddhism are the Mahayana , Theravada, and Vajrayana . A schism at the second Buddhist Council in 443-379 BCE, led to the formation of the Mahayana sect. In addition to the Tipitaka, this sect also gives importance to the sutras as a precept for life, and is relatively liberal in its beliefs.

Emphasis is given to Bodhisattvas, or living saints. At the third Buddhist Council of 247 BCE, a second schism resulted in the Theravada sect in which the Tipitaka is the main scripture. According to this school, total renunciation is the way to salvation. The Vajrayana school developed from 320-100 and is characterized by the use of mantras – incantations, and tantras – mystic symbols. In addition to the three main schools of Buddhism, there are two other contemporary lines of belief in China and Japan: Pure Land, or Jodo and Ch’an or Zen (Tamney, “Buddhism”).

Buddhism spread during the reign of Emperor Asoka in 247 BCE. Asoka sent emissaries to Sri Lanka Burma, Afghanistan and even Egypt and Greece. 65 CE witnessed the entry of Buddhism into China and Thailand. Vietnam was entered in the second century, followed by Korea in 372, Nepal in the fourth century, Java, Sumatra and Borneo in the fifth century, Cambodia in the fifth century and Japan in 552 CE. Buddhism spread to Tibet in 641 CE. In all the countries of its adoption, Buddhism experienced its highs and lows due to repression and persecution by some rulers, and violent encounters with Islam.

It is now the predominant religion in Sri Lanka, China, Japan, Taiwan, Tibet, Nepal, Mongolia, Korea, and Vietnam, and retains a significant position in India (Harderwijk, “Time-Line”).Buddhism remains a major world religion. The first Western translation of the Dhammapada into German in 1862 signified its entry into the West. Zen Buddhist tradition is particularly attractive to Westerners. Buddhist meditation techniques are gaining widespread acceptance as tools for healthy living. For most Western converts, Buddhism is less a religion than a philosophy for life.

Works Cited.Boeree, George C. “An Introduction to Buddhism.” Shippensburg University. 2000. Web. 27 November 2012.http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/buddhaintro.htmlHarderwijk,  Rudy. “Time-Line.” A View on Buddhism. 2011. Web. 27 November 2012http://viewonbuddhism.org/time-line.htmlRobinson, B.A. “The Core Beliefs of Buddhism.” Religious Tolerance Organization. Web. 27 November 2012.http://www.religioustolerance.org/buddhism.htmTamney, Joseph B. “Buddhism.” Hartford Institute for Religion Research, Hartford Seminary. Web. 27 November 2012.

http://www.hartfordinstitute.org/ency/buddhism.htm