Buddhism Pure Land Essay

Buddhism originated in India in fifth century BCE. In Buddha’s first sermon, he states that sorrow arises from craving and in order to stop the craving, one must follow the “Noble Truth of the Way” (Document 1). Later around 350 CE, China was invaded by central Asian steppe nomads. During this time, Zhi Dun, a Chinese scholar and author and friend of Chinese governmental officials, wrote that anyone who follows Buddha teachings and the path of Buddhism, he or she will be “enlightened in his spirit, and then he [or she] will reach Nirvana.” In Zhi Dun’s perspective, he believes that Buddhism will calm down China through its peaceful method of meditation. Due to invasions, disunity was present in the society (Document 2). As a result, many Chinese scholars saw Buddhism established order and control and found it as a way of reviving China. An anonymous Chinese scholar, who published the Disposition of Error in 500 CE, stated that he who follows the Way will gain “goodness and wisdom” in place of “worldly pleasures” (Document 3). While Confucianism was based on the idea of creating a better world, Buddhism focused more on acquiring more knowledge and being good to oneself. The monks who reach enlightenment give up their worldly views because they want peace in the world over their own desire of a wife and

Zen Buddhism and Pure Land Buddhism are just schools of practice. The difference is mainly in practice. Buddhism, in general, does not worship what you call "Gods", but their existences are acknowledged as a heavenly being of intense merits and blessings, often with the leadership of qualities of that sort. Other cases of belief, Gods may or may not be acknowledged. However, this is hardly accurate to the whole of the Buddha Dharma. Zen Buddhism is the focus of meditation to attain enlightenment. This is the practice of sitting in stillness, focusing on single-mindedness and investigating Zen. Whereas, Pure Land Buddhism is the focus of reciting Amitabha. However, recitation of Buddha 's name can cause one to enter Samadhi. It employs the single-minded focus that aims for in Zen meditation. Pure Land 's main goal was from the recitation of Amitabha Buddha for

However, it is far from being the only links that one can make between Zen and Pure Land Buddhism. Indeed, most features of the path and the characteristics of enlightenment in Zen have a similar counterpart in Pure Land Buddhism. First of all, and perhaps most flagrantly, conventional teachings are also eschewed in favor of less conventional means in Pure Land Buddhism. Just like Zen, in order to attain spiritual realizations (in Pure Land’s case, shinjin), mind training is necessary. The practice prescribed is extremely similar to Zen. Instead of a “live word”, Pure Land practitioners constantly repeat a phrase (this practice is called nembutsu) for months, years or even decades. Eventually, the repetition becomes automatic, going as far as doing “nembutsu while yawning” (Li, Apr 4., 2016). Just like Zen’s kensho, it is at this point that the Pure Land practitioner can reach shinjin. In Pure Land Buddhism, the realizations also transcend simple logic and reason: “it is not merely belief as intellectual assent, but strong, inner conviction” (Bloom 1999, 230). Because realizations transcend conventional thinking, conventional knowledge is also seen as detrimental in Pure Land Buddhism: “Recognition of our ignorance is connected with our becoming truthful. Since we can become united with each other in truthfulness, ‘genuine trust’ or spiritual oneness is actually truthfulness” (Maida 1989, 32). Also like Zen, spiritual realizations are sudden and not gradual: “Shinran’s teaching is absolute Other Power and transcending or immediate (ocho)” (Bloom 1999, 231). Finally, the traditional monastic practices and rules are also disregarded in favor of a lay life. This is due to another inversion from Shinran. Traditionally, Pure Land Buddhism was regarded as the easy and inferior way for people who couldn’t engage in more serious and demanding practice. However, Shinran, because

Zen Buddhism and Pure Land Buddhism are considered as two popular schools in Mahayana Buddhism. The two are regarded as polar opposites. In this paper, I argue that Zen Buddhism and Pure Land Buddhism are not entirely different, they still have underlying similarities instead.

The aspiration of all sentient beings is to reach enlightenment; to realize their Buddha-nature and ascend to Buddhahood. The path and method to reach enlightenment, however, differs depending on the perspective from which one views Buddhism. Dogen, in his teachings on Zen Buddhism, promotes the practice of zazen to reach enlightenment. Shinran and the Pure Land sect are devoted to Amida Buddha, who they believe will bring them to the Pure Land, and enlightenment. The ways espoused by Dogen and Shinran are similar in some aspects, but differing enough in others to warrant the separate sects of Buddhism in Japan. For the purposes of this examination, the two sects can be summarized by how they look at reaching enlightenment: Zen Buddhism focuses inwardly, while Pure Land focuses outwardly. By examining their own words on how one is to reach enlightenment, the similarities and differences in their methods can be seen, allowing a better understanding of the teachings of their respective sects.

Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Order and its Los Angeles branch temple, Hsi Lai Temple practices Humanistic Buddhism. Humanistic Buddhism is the teaching of Buddha. It affirms that the Buddha was born into the human world, and was cultivated in this world. The difference is that Buddha was enlightened in this human world and he taught other human beings in this world how to reach Nirvana, the freedom from suffering, in this human world and not apart from it. Buddha taught others that it is through our humanity that Buddhahood, full enlightenment, will be attained. Buddhism says that “the Dharma is to be found in this world and not in another and to leave this human world to search for the Dharma is as futile as searching for a rabbit with horns.” Humanistic Buddhism teaches that you can fully live in this human world and practice Buddhism at the same time, the two are not separate and they support each other perfectly by cultivating the wisdom that clearly understands the true nature of the reality. Humanistic Buddhism is certainly not new, but Master Hsing Yun’s journey explains how it got here today.

Buddhism originated in the early Fifth century BCE, from the teachings of Siddhartha Buddha (Fisher, 2005). Plagued by the desire to help end human suffering, Buddha reached a state of pure enlightenment showing him the way to end earthly suffering. Through meditation, people can control the desires of their human nature. By gaining control of our desires we can end our suffering. He taught his wisdom to all that wanted to learn. After his death, three main forms of Buddhism emerged; there was the Theravada’s, the Mahayana’s, and the Zen Buddhists (Fisher, 2005). For the sake of this report, the local Buddhist

The Buddhist Temple of Chicago practices one of the most popular sects of Buddhism in Japan called Jodo Shinsu, also known as Pure Land Buddhism (Shotō 1). Instead of stressing the Eight Fold Path, as traditional Theravada Buddhists do, Pure Land Buddhists chose to interpret the teachings of the Buddha more freely (Wangu 1). Furthermore, Pure Land Buddhists seek guidance from Amitabha Buddha, a deity figure from Mahayana Buddhism (Wangu 1). As the current ruler of the Western Paradise of Sahavaki, it is believed that when Amitabha Buddha was on the verge of enlightenment, he made a vow claiming that if he attained Nirvana, he will help those who seek his name reach Nirvana as well (Wangu 1). Now, devote Pure Land Buddhists proclaim

In The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching, Thich Nhat Hanh provides a citation from the Buddha, which gives insight into the cure of our distress. “I teach only suffering and the transformation of suffering” (Thich Nhat

When reading a Record of Buddhist Kingdoms, by Fa-hsien I recognized a recurring theme. Fa-hsiens travels, through different kingdoms provides the reader with insight on the life and teachings of Buddha, and the tenets of the religion he founded. Although I recognized many themes, I will reflect on three that I found insightful, and inspiring. They are self-denial, Kindness to strangers, and sacrifice.

The Buddha went in between to extremes to find the middle way. The middle way consists of the four noble truths and the eightfold path. The four noble truths are the most commonly shared belief between Buddhists. They are ways to eliminate desire, which will eliminate suffering. Number one says, “ life consists of suffering.” Number two says, “everything is impermanent and ever-changing, we suffer because we desire those things that are impermanent.” Number three says, “ the way to liberate oneself from suffering is to eliminate desire.” And number four says, “ desire can be eliminated by following the eightfold path.” The eightfold path is a group of statements, they are not sequential things, they are just attitudes and actions. The eightfold path consists of right understanding, right thought, right speech, right action, right live hood, right effort, right awareness and right meditation. By following these attitudes and actions, you can achieve a life without suffering#.

Pure Lands Buddhism is highly influenced by the doctrines and practices in Tendai, especially the Lotus Sutra. However, Pure Lands Buddhism began to spread throughout Japan because of the shift from the Heian period to the Kamakura period. The “uncertainty of life” and the belief that mappō was occurring allowed the shift to Pure Lands Buddhism to become popular (Earhart 130). I believe that this shift occurred because of the inclusive nature of Pure Lands Buddhism. The main belief that “Amida has compassion for and wants to save all human beings” allowed Buddhists to focus more on reaching salvation by going to the Pure Lands (Earhart 131). Pure Lands Buddhism allowed monks to ignore the decline of the Buddha’s law, or mappō, that was supposedly

E. Preview Main Points: Today we will take an in-depth look at the beliefs of the Four Noble Truths and Karma and the customs of meditation and the Sacred Mandela. We will also explore its history in India and of Buddha, and how the Dalai Lama and Thich Nhat Hanh have truly shaped this life changing religion.

In the United States there are over four million buddhists, one thousand temples, study groups, or Buddhists associations (Monroe 108). This number has come from just one man searching to find happiness and eventually enlightenment. Buddha’s story is how buddhism became a religion all over the world. It teaches a peaceful manner, reveals the key to happiness for the mind, and eliminates the desire in life. Not just the history of buddhism is important, but how it has spread through the world and what it looks like today.

Buddhism is the practice of finding peace within ones self by developing inner peace, wisdom and kindness. This practice dates back 2,500 years, and the founder is known as Buddha Shakyamuni. He was born a royal prince in a town called Lumbini; originally part of northern India but now makes part of Nepal. When Buddha was 29 years old, he retired form his royal life and left to the woods to fallow the spiritual life of meditation. He found a new way of life without materialistic needs by finding inner enlightenment. Buddha teaches how to get liberation from suffering form oneself, and how to attain enlightenment for the sake of others; his main goal was to give people permanent liberation form suffering by helping them find lasting peace or nirvana.