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Buddhism Essay

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Buddhism

According to Webster's definition, Buddhism is not a religion. It states that religion is the "belief in or worship of God or gods"(Webster's New World Dictionary pg.505). "The Buddha was not a god"(About Buddhism pg.1). " There is no theology, no worship of a deity or deification of the Buddha"(Butter pg.1) in Buddhism. Therefore
"Buddhists don't pray to a creator god"(Buddhism FAQ's pg.1). Consequently, Buddhism is catagorized as a philosophy, but is still regarded it as a religion. "The name Buddhism comes from the word 'budhi' which means to wake up and thus Buddhism is the philosophy of awakening"(What is Buddhism pg.1). Fittingly, "buddha literally means
'awakened one'"( Buddhist Basics pg.1). "Buddha are …show more content…

Time is often viewed to be like that of a river. If you've seen a river you'd have seen that "the water continually flowed and flowed and yet it was always there; It was always the same yet every moment it was new"(Hesse pg.83). Breaking this cycle was the main goal of the Buddha. This has been the way of thinking in Buddhism, since its beginning. "Buddhism emerged in India more than 2.5 thousand years ago as a religious and philosophical teaching"(Buddhism pg.1). In fact "Buddhism is the most ancient of the four world religions"(Buddhism pg.1). They have many followers. Although an exact number cannot be calculated, for various reasons, "one can speak of approximately 400 billion lay practitioners and 1 billion Buddhist monks and nuns in the world"(Buddhism pg.1). Buddhism was not started by the first Buddha, for " there have been many
Buddha"(Buddhist Basics pg.1), but by the historical Buddha.

Siddartha fasting as a Samana. "The historical Buddha was born in approximately 563 B.C.E. in Northern
India"(Who is Buddha pg.1). His birth took place "in the towm of Kapilavastu (located in today's Nepal)"(Introduction to Buddhism pg.2). He was named " Siddartha, which means 'he whose aim is accomplished'"(Introduction to Buddhism pg.2). "Siddartha's parents were King Shuddhodana and Queen Maya, who ruled the Sakyas"(Introduction to
Buddhism pg. 2). Being the historical Buddha, "his compassion and patience were legendary"(What is

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