Buddhism as Religion and Its Influences - Essay Example

Buddhism As a religion, Buddhism is indigenous to the Indian subcontinent, and consists of numerous beliefs, traditions and practices, which are primarily based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, also referred to as the awakened one or Buddha. Buddha’s existence and teachings in the east of the Indian subcontinent can be traced back to between the 6th century BC and 4th century BC. Buddha is acclaimed as an enlightened teacher who taught his insights in order to help receptive beings put an end to their suffering (dukkha) through the obliteration of ignorance (avidya) through understanding and seeing the dependent origination (pratītyasamutpāda), as well as the deterrence of craving (tanha) (Shun and Wing 197). Through the achievement of these fundamental insights, Buddha poised that people could ultimately attain cessation of all forms of suffering, which he referred to as the sublime state of nirvana. Since its inception, Buddhism has influenced a wide array of cultures, beliefs, attitudes and practices. This influence is evidence across the entire globe, even in some of the other predominant religious of the world, which share distinct parallels with Buddhism. Buddhist philosophy has also influenced the philosophy of different religions globally. The purpose of this paper is to provide evidence of Buddhist influence, describing the distinctive parallels to Buddhism, as well as the influence of Buddhism on creative arts, particularly in China. Buddha created a religion that has since changed many societies. By the year 300BC Buddhism had gained immense political influence. Buddhism spread towards the east, forever changing Korea, Japan and China. At the core of Buddhist influence was the wise explanation of the human condition, offering consolation that other religions did not provide. Buddhism introduced the culture of compassion into societies in which survival was formerly contingent on social status and where poverty was quite abundant. The new religion not only impacted the social environment of the societies, but also changed their political constellations. Although other similarly strong religions competed to gain political influence in China and Japan, other countries such as Burma, Tibet and Thailand became predominantly Buddhist kingdoms. Buddhism changed the entire South Eastern part of the Asian continent; both with regard to its aesthetics and philosophy (Lee 129). A monastic culture was developed and not created a brand new social structure, but a new ideal, as well. The ethics inherent in Buddhism permeated all societies in which Buddhism was founded. Buddhism ultimately spread to the West as Asian immigrants brought it with them, developing places of worship. Interested Western travelers, as well as scholars played a critical role in enhancing the popularity and spread of Buddhism outside the Asian region. Entire faculties at colleges and universities were created with a view to pursue studies into Buddhism. In the West, Buddhist art, architecture and philosophy created a new growth path as it continued to influence these elements of Western culture. One of the most critical influences of Buddhist philosophy is the doctrine of ahimsa or non-violence, which continues to play an integral role in sections of a vast majority of Western societies (Williams 147). Buddhist psychology on violence and wellbeing and been pivotal in influencing peaceful existence among societies, to date. A new monastic culture was developed and has long secured the steady flow of ideas between the West and East. Although some violent wars have emerged between the followers of various religions, for instance, Hindu-Buddhist conflicts in India, violent power struggles between Buddhist sects in Japan and Taoist-Buddhist discord in China, it is worth noting that Buddhism has never initiated any major war. Buddhism is also attributed for major influences on Japanese vernacular literature. Japanese secular literature is founded on ways of thinking, feeling and behaving for which Buddhism was easily adapted to the country’s needs. However, in addition to Buddhist doctrines, it is also paramount to note that Western attitudes and religions parallel to Buddhism have also left a distinctive mark on Japan’s notions relating to proper behavior, thinking and feeling since the 1868 Meiji Restoration. Evidence of Buddhist influence on the vernacular literature of Japan, both with regard to secular and doctrinal writing is clear in references to sutras, monks and pagodas (Shun and Wing 247). Moreover, among East Asian religions, Buddhism played an integral role in influencing printing and writing. Buddhism enhanced the spread and use of print technology, which ultimately resulted in an enhanced dissemination of secular literacy and printing, as well as exerting a critical influence on government, economics and parallel philosophies and religions. There are a number of religions and philosophies, which are considered as parallels to Buddhism. One of such parallels is Christianity. Since the 13th century, which marked the arrival of Christian missionaries in the East, as well as the arrival of Buddhism in the Western parts of Europe between the 18th and 19th centuries, similarities were conceived between Christianity and Buddhism and their inherent practices (Williams 97). However, in the 20th century, differences between the two philosophies or religions were also highlighted. In spite of the surface level non-analogies, Christianity and Buddhism have numerous inherent and fundamental dissimilarities at the deepest levels. These differences start with the place of monotheism at the heart of Christianity and Buddhism’s orientations towards non-theism, as well as its rejection of the concept of a creator deity. This rejection is contrary to the teachings about God in Christianity. The fundamental differences between the two philosophies and religions extend to the significance of Grace in Christianity, which rejects the interference of Karma in Theravada Buddhism. The predominant iconic imagery of Christianity and Buddhism underscore the parallels in the religions’ belief structures. This is because this because the peaceful death of Gautama Buddha at old age is dramatically contrasted with the callous image of Jesus’ crucifixion as an eager sacrifice in order to atone for the sins perpetrated by humanity. Buddhist scholars such as Masao Abe consider the significance of crucifixion in Christianity as a contradictory gap between the two philosophical belief systems. Most modern scholars have roundly rejected all historical bases for Jesus’ travel to Tibet or India or the influences between the teachings of Buddhism and Christianity. These have seen the attempts at parallel symbolism as incidences of parallelomania, which exaggerate the significance of petty resemblances (Shun and Wing 67). The influences of Buddhism have also been witnessed in various art forms such as Japanese martial arts, which have largely been influenced by the Zen philosophy inherent in Buddhism. The influences of Buddhism are also evident in Chinese arts; this influence includes dance development. Buddhist culture has influenced Chinese dance development, which is evident in the dancing figures inherent in grottoes in Buddhist regions, which are the precious heritage of Chinese art. Chinese paintings have been influenced significantly by Buddhism. “Lohan Seated in a Tree” is an example of a painting done through ink and light colors on paper, which is influenced by Buddhism. This painting is from the Ming Dynasty, done in the year 1608 by Ding Yunpeng. This style of painting is characterized by the vitality of lively and bright quality of color and line. Lohan denotes enlightened being. Yunpeng draws a lohan meditating in a tree. The terms, “On the 16th day of the nine month, autumn of Wu Sheen (1608), respectfully drawn by the Buddhist disciple Ding Yunpeng” are inscribed on the painting (Lee 154). Ming artists held the opinion that examples from the past effectively provided artistic standards for the present. As a result, the styles of many past Buddhist masters were kept alive as alternatives within the painter’s fashionable vocabulary. Consequently, innumerable artistic works are signed as “in the manner of” an earlier Buddhist artists, showing evidence of the influence of Buddhism on both ancient and contemporary art forms. Works Cited Lee, S.  A History of Far Eastern Art. 5th ed. New York: Prentice Hall, 2003. Print. Shun, Y., and Wing, Y. H. The Way to Buddhahood: Instructions from a Modern Chinese Master. London: Wisdom Publications, 1998. Print. Williams, P. Mahayana Buddhism: The Doctrinal Foundations (The Library of Religious Beliefs and Practices). 2nd ed. New York: Routledge, 2008. Print. Read More