Teachings of the Buddha - Essay Example

What is Buddhism? The word Buddhism results from the word “Buddhi” meaning “awaken.” Buddhism originates from 2500 years ago when Siddharta Gotama, referred to Buddha was lift to light. However, Buddhism refers to a practice leading to more information about reality. The question needing answers is what is the history of Buddhism? There are different types of Buddhism practiced all over the world. However, Buddhism has a relation with science making it scientifically proven by scientists. It involves, showing respect to smiling statue with its hands rest in its lap. Majority of the countries practicing Buddhism end up being poor as observed. However, Buddhism increases on being popular among people in different regions of the world. Under Buddhism, five precepts take control in enhancing its activities and popularity. All of the above pointed points are below respectively. Buddhism greatly increases popularity in the western countries with each day. Large numbers of people seek intervention of Buddhism to get answers to their suffering. However, the people are more concerned on answers on how to improve their lives to greater levels. The study shows that increase in Buddhism popularity is as a result to comfort it creates. Buddhism has a greater understanding of the human mind which prominent psychologists have come to realize and support. Each religion contains principles that regulate behavior of its followers. Christianity believes in God, life after death, repentance, love, honesty and all the virtues highlighted in the Holy Bible. Muslims believe Koran contains rules to follow. Simply, Buddhism contains principles regulating behavior and character of its followers. The major principles include - • No murder – Buddhism prohibit any person from taking life of any living creature. It is sinful for anyone to try to take life. However, it states that no one has the direct authority to own the life any creature that at will he or she may take its life away. • No stealing –stealing, taking anything without the authority of the owner, Buddhism disagrees with the authority of taking anything without owner concern. It is against the rules and it is punishable. • No immorality – Buddhism encourages its followers to refrain from sexual misconducts. It is unconstitutional for anyone to be in sexual activity before marriage or cheating on one’s spouse. It is also punishable • Stay out of untrue speech- Buddhism prohibits any lie from its followers. Lying portray uncouth behavior. It advocates honesty at all time among its followers. (Kornfield, p.13, 1996) There are questions on who to offer worship to by Buddhist, where is he located, how he communicates to his followers, are there specific regions where Buddha is located. Well to answer all questions Buddha was a person born in a rich royal family in Lumbini currently located in Nepal. The actual name of Buddha was, Siddhartha Gotama. He realized that wealth was not any assurance of happiness in life. To back his statement, he studied the different philosophical aspects of all religions and developed Buddhism. The study took him six years. Who is Buddha? A man who studied different religions and developed Buddhism principles because of his experience defines Buddha. ( Kornifield, p.3, 1996) The different types of Buddhism are, Theravada Buddhism, Mahayana Buddhism, and Tibetan Buddhism. Each of the types discussed below. Mahayana Buddhism Basing the teachings of Mahayana, Mahayana refers to the path of Bodhisattva. Mahayana was practice of the Indians. They developed every possible current practice of Mahayana. Due to the increase in practice Mahayana in India, the other parts of Asia regions adopted the practice. It made the practice popular to most of the people. The Asian countries that adopted Mahayana Buddhism include Japan, Korea, China, Vietnam, and Mongolia. Currently, the countries that mainly involved in Mahayana Buddhism include, Zen, Pure land, Tiantai and Nichiren. Tibetan Buddhism Tibetan Buddhism comprises of foundational vehicle, Mahayana, and Vajrayana teachings. They are the most important aspects of Tibetan Buddhism. They form a major foundation towards understanding Tibetan Buddhism in greater deeper aspects. The major role that Tibetan Buddhism plays, ensuring and educating individuals, towards getting Buddhahood at a high rate involving Vajrayana in Mahayana way. Theravada Buddhism This type of Buddhism refers to “doctrine of elders”. Its emergence was because of different practices among the Indian communities. It then became widely spread in other parts of Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia. Theravada Buddhism involves canonical writings that were the writings of Buddha and put into writing into Pali language. The canonical writings divided into sections. The sections were Buddha’s sermons, the monastic rules, and philosophical enumerations of the Buddha’s writings. The foundation of Theravada doctrine established under the clear distinction of samsara (cyclic realm of suffering) and nirvana (or Nibbana, release). Theravada Buddhism founded at the aim escaping the samsara to join nirvana. In order to complete this, achieving the status of an arhat proved to be vital. Arhat role be saint released from practices of samsara and would never come to life again. Science has come by to prove that Buddhism has a direct relationship to science. This theory state that Buddha himself asked his followers to test the happenings and not to believe only what he had to say. Science however is knowledge that has undergone vigorous testing and proven to be facts and not mere theories and stories. The relationship between science and Buddhism outline clearly by the four noble truth factors. The first noble truth states that life is full of challenges. Life comprises of difficulties, pain and suffering. Not only that, life has a lot of embarrassments, fear, betrayal, diseases, and natural calamities. Buddhism offers a solution to all the life challenges. It educates people of how to navigate and avoid challenges. However, it explains how to become happy. (Kornfield, p.245, 1996) The second noble truth indicates that suffering because of the desire in life. It shows that people become more concerned in impressing other people. The dislike of one’s effort makes life difficult. The craving to living, however, helps someone on improving areas of difficulty. Buddhism educates that one should struggle to get what would make you happy. It however states that one should be more concerned on personal issues rather than public issues to avoid unnecessary thoughts. The third noble truth indicates that life would be nice if the strong craving dismisses. It however states that to be happy in life; you have to live life as it comes by each day. Facing challenges and solving them each day makes one stronger. As a result, being stronger offers an opportunity to help other people face challenges and learn to live each day as life dictates. It promotes unity in the region. The fourth noble truth indicates that the only path heading to the end of suffering is the noble 8-fold path. Noble 8-fold path involves being moral. It also involves, involving, the mind in all activities partaken in activities of life. It, however, involves developing understanding for all noble-four truths and be good to other people. The noble-4 truths indicate that the science is prove and tested facts. The challenges that Buddhism highlight happen to each in the world. However, there are solutions to all challenges that human beings face to make life smooth. These solutions test to be true making Buddhism scientifically related. This study brings the question; does Buddhism involve worshipping of idols? A statue in strategic is position bowed to. It contains hands that lay on its lap and a smile. People bow to it as a significance of respect and appreciation of the teachings of Buddha. Bowing to the statue is not a form of worship neither is it meant to ask for any favors. The smile on the statue taken to mean a reminder to people to always uphold peace and have a love towards one another at all time. No clear study indicates who exactly receive the worship, as the statue is not their god. A study shows that the countries are practicing Buddhism lead on poverty. Poverty has nothing worth. One of the Buddhism teaching states, “Wealth is not a guarantee of happiness”. People involve in finding what factors aid being happy. As Buddhism does not regard wealth as one the factors, people do not concentrate in finding wealth. As result, poverty takes control in Buddhism countries and areas. Countries and regions that do not follow Buddhism regard wealth as a major contributor of happiness in life. People struggle to get wealth. Other factors contributing to happiness would regard as minor or major supplements. Wealth gives one a chance to acquire a higher percentage of luxurious assets and respect within the community, the country, as well as globally. There are no formal means of being a Buddhist. However, no methodology made to test true Buddhist. Buddhism concerns on teachings involving solutions to queries of human beings. Buddhism’s advice to its followers is that, everyone should into considerations its exact teachings but, derive their conclusions and solutions to challenges in life. Basing Buddhism in real life situation, each person is answerable for his or her actions. It Makes Buddhism common to every person as each person is in on one way or another responsible for his or her actions. Buddhism clearly is a religion that every human being practices. It is evident in that it advocates personal responsibility for each action. Buddhism encourages the laxity in such of wealth as it states that wealth not a major factor or determiner to one’s happiness. The teachings of Buddhism encourage peace and love be portrayed by everyone to one another. It is evident by the smile of the statue with its hands on its laps. The smile is a symbol of peace and love. There are the major types of Buddhism known, Theravada Buddhism, Mahayana Buddhism, and Tibetan Buddhism. Major study by Buddha resulted to Buddhism. Buddhism emerged because of personal study and experience of Buddha. Buddhism link on scientific relation makes it livelier. As a science is knowledge of testing and approving of facts, Buddhism involves the study of human beings problems and developing solutions. Developing of solutions towards one’s problem signify act of Buddhism practice. India forms a base origin of Buddhism. It enabled the expansion of the practice to other Asian countries. The developer of Buddhism, Siddhartha Gotama studied religions for six years to come up with Buddhism. Born in a rich, royal family, Gotama concluded, wealth was not and never will be an assurance of happiness in man’s life. Peace and love play a major role in making life interesting. Buddhism operates under regulations that regulate the behavior of Buddhists. The regulations act as guidelines towards making life a success. The major regulations are; no one has the authority to murder any living thing, each person is entitled to be of moral behavior. No stealing of other people’s property and each person has an obligation to practice absolute honesty. Buddhism has the direct relation to other religions. First, other religions emphasize on love and peace among their followers. Christians, however regard love as the most important fruit of the Holy Spirit. Buddhism encourages followers to have the strength to face challenges in life and stop relying on other people. Other religions regard hard work as a virtue that needs practice at all time. However, no religion promote stealing, murder, sexual immorality and dishonesty. These make a common factor among Buddhism and other religions. Work cited Hesse, Hermann. Siddartha. Suhrkamp Veriag, 1950. Print. Kornfield, Jack. Teachings of the Buddha. Rev. and Enl. ed. Boston: Shambhala ;, 1996. Print. Carus, Paul, and Diana Ruth. The Teachings of Buddha. Rev. and Abr. ed. New York: St. Martins, 1998 .Print. Nardo, Don. Buddhism. Minneapolis, Minn.: Compass Point, 2009. Print. Read More