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Dalai Lama Essay

Decent Essays

Question 1- Buddhism (20 marks)

The significant people and schools of thought in Buddhism that have the most impact are those that challenge adherents to follow Buddhist teachings more closely.
How accurate is this statement in relation to ONE significant person or school of thought, other than the Buddha.

The fourteenth Dalai Lama, also known as the Bodhisattva of Compassion, is one of the most significant religious leaders in the world and is also exceptionally important to Buddhism. He has been especially influential with regards to reinterpreting traditional Buddhist teachings so they are relevant in a more contemporary context and using them to deal with issues that have arisen and effect the Buddhist people.

The Dalai …show more content…

Through including the religion into the government it meant all state decisions were to be made based on the Buddhist teachings. This encouraged the religion to remain relevant and also meant more people were including their faith in their daily decisions. Through this system of government it also meant that the three Jewels of Buddhism could be included in daily life and the decisions for the state were made with the best intentions and followed the principles of Buddhism.

The Dalai Lama has also challenged adherents to accept the fate that is given to them and make the greatest use of their reincarnated form. As a young child he was unable to reject the position of ‘Dalai Lama’ however he has managed to utilise this position to the best advantage and has bettered the world through this. He has pushed for the bettering of the world for both religious and secular societies. His messages of peace, tolerance and the renunciation of the desires of anger and revenge have resonated with people globally.

Through his status as a Bodhisattva His Holiness has also shown that the helping of others to achieve enlightenment is an essential aspect of Buddhism. He has reinterpreted traditional scripture to make it easier for contemporary Buddhist followers to gain enlightenment. He has also published books to enable adherents to gain a deeper and more rounded knowledge of Buddhism and the

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