Buddhism Essay

Submitted By piyali1998
Words: 804
Pages: 4

Buddhism Buddhism is a religion indigenous to the Indian subcontinent that encompasses a variety of traditions, beliefs, and practices largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, who is commonly known as the Buddha (meaning "the awakened one" in Sanskrit and Pāli). The Buddha lived and taught in the eastern part of Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th centuries BCE.[1] He is recognized by Buddhists as an awakened or enlightened teacher who shared his insights to help sentient beings end suffering (dukkha) through eliminating ignorance (avidyā) and craving (taṇhā), by way of understanding and seeing dependent origination (pratītyasamutpāda) and non-self (anātman), and thus attain the highest happiness, nirvāņa (nirvana). Two major branches of Buddhism are recognized: Theravada ("The School of the Elders") and Mahayana ("The Great Vehicle"). Theravada has a widespread following in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia. Mahayana is found throughout East Asia and includes the traditions of Pure Land, Zen, Nichiren Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism, Shingon, Tiantai (Tendai) and Shinnyo-en. In some classifications, Vajrayana—practiced mainly in Tibet and Mongolia, and adjacent parts of China and Russia—is recognized as a third branch, while others classify it as a part of Mahayana. There are other categorisations of these three Vehicles or Yanas.[2] The most practiced regions are East Asia, South East Asia and some parts of South Asia.The most practiced countries are Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos,Sri Lanka for the Theravada Buddhism and Tibet, Bhutan, China, Korea, Japan for Mahayana Buddhism. Buddhism has no deities. The Buddha himself is revered (but not worshipped) as he is the first person to achieve enlightenment without guidance. His statues are in temples and houses as a focus of attention not an idol or icon. The "magic" in Buddhism is, since he was only a man and could become enlightened. Buddhism is monotheistic. The nearest place to go is Wat Carolina Buddhajakra Vanarma. The name of the holy book for Buddhism religion is the sacred book of called the Tipitaka. It is written in an ancient Indian language called Pali which is very close to the language that the Buddha himself spoke. A man named Siddharta Gautama is considered the founder of the Buddhist tradition. He was called the Buddha by his followers, that means the “awakened one”. The first of these is Lumbini, the place where Gautam Buddha was born as Siddharta to Suddhodhana, the chieftain of Sakya clan. His name Sakyamuni owes its origin to the Sakya clan to which he belonged. The astrologers, on his birth had predicted that there were chance that the prince would abandon every thing and pursue a path of his own. Due to this Suddhodhana indulged prince Siddharta in pampering comforts of royalty and kept him away from the harsh reality of the life. However, one fine day, Siddharta came face to face with the misiries of the life. This was the turning point in His life. He discarded worldly pleasures and set out in search of truth of life. Finally, in Bodhgaya, the second of the four holy sites in Buddhism, He attained enlightenment and became the