How Did Taxu Initiated The Humanistic Buddhism Movement

Instability between religious groups was also a common issue and yet another effect of the spread of Buddhism in China, and led to the consistent repression or defense of one’s religion (Doc’s 2, 3). Though Buddhism left a large effect and influence on multiple characteristics of society, it’s most noticeable in social and political classes

The response to the spread of Buddhism in China differed according to one’s social position.

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

In classical India, the religion of Buddhism was formed in reaction to the strict ways of Hinduism. Many people, mainly lower class, converted to seek a better life and be enlightened more efficiently. This new religion made its way to China where much of its population converted through trade and missionaries. The conversion of Buddhism in China caused many effects of the spread of Buddhism because of its influential impacts from 300 to 900 CE which are influencing the government, caused some people to reject it, and mainly was a unifying force for China. An effect the spread of Buddhism is the influence of its morals on China’s government in 300-900 CE (Doc’s 1, 7). On some occasions Chinese people vehemently rejected Buddhism and rather practice more Chinese driven religion (Doc’s 5, 7). The most impactful effect of the spread of Buddhism is its ability to unite the Chinese in the way of

Buddhism began by Buddha himself preaching his enlightenment message on his view on the world and how humans should, and the best way to, succeed in the world. However in the 6th century BCE the government had fallen and there was period of instability until the Sui Dynasty took over, during this period was when Buddhism began to majorly spread. After the fall of the Han dynasty, there were many responses to the spread of Buddhism throughout China between the 6th century BCE and 570 CE. Buddhism was accepted, tolerated, and rejected. Buddhism was accepted because it was an acceptable path to enlightenment. It was tolerated by those who would not be affected by its popularity and power. Those who rejected it were people whose wealth

“It is often said that, aside from the impact of Marxism on twentieth-century China, the only other time when the Chinese looked beyond their own borders for intellectual sustenance was during the period when Buddhism was absorbed from India” (LaFleur 23). Why did this religion appeal to the Chinese when they disregarded so many other external influences? After all, being tied to the rest of the world by the Silk Road meant they were constantly inundated with novel concepts from far and wide. The answer must lie in how Buddhism interacted with the other faiths already established in the country, namely Confucianism and Daoism (sometimes spelled Taoism). While at first glance it may appear that Confucian China would be the last place

Some evident transitions include, “the weakening of state control and the institutionalization of Buddhism as a distinct “corporate entity” in administration, taxation, and economic activities; the influence of enlightenment thinking and modernist scientific rational- ism, which is evident in Buddhist monastic reforms and in Buddhist publications for public consumption; a decline followed by a modest recovery of both monastic and lay Buddhism, in parallel with a growth in the enhanced status of women as nuns or lay practitioners in East and Southeast Asia; engagement with social and political causes in the form of Buddhist reform movements, hospitals, NGO’s, and social services; the commercialization of ritual services, especially in the form of “funerary Buddhism”; increasing lay interest in Buddhism as a “self-help” movement, accompanied by broader participation in activities once limited exclusively for monastics: meditation classes, retreats, study groups, and the like; and the expansion of Tibetan Buddhism throughout Asia and the world since 1959, as a consequence of the Tibetan exile. The modernization of Buddhism influenced some of the well regarded authors in American Literature. The Heart Sūtra (a foundational scripture of Mahāyāna Buddhism) was translated by Henry David Thoreau. However, Buddhist modernism is mostly “lay-based” and individualistic. It is focused on meditation and psychological introspection. Furthermore, in 1960’s America, a highly romanticized view of Buddhism began to form. This view of Buddhism in the modern age was inspired by the countercultural movements and by a few “cosmopolitan Asian intellectuals who have lectured and published in the West.” More importantly, One of the most significant social and institutional developments in

In this paper it will discuss the influence of the Buddha and how Buddhism came to America and the impact it had upon its arrival. How the American culture westernized Buddhism in their own way and how it looks today. It will also cover the difference of ethnic Buddhism and convert Buddhism in America. More specifically the objective of this paper is to explain descriptively and analytically and go over the historical time line of

Buddhism was founded in India in the sixth century B.C.E. and gradually moved to China after the fall of the Han dynasty in 220 C.E. For several centuries Buddhism influenced China greatly. During that time to 570 C.E., China experienced an era of political instability and disunity, afterwards which the imperial structure was restored. During the 1st century C.E. the spread of Buddhism from India to China was met with mixed results, in which many Chinese people accepted Buddhism and advocated its principles such as the philosophy and promise of afterlife over the Confucian ideals that were previously instituted, but the truth was that Chinese masses turned to Buddhism for its promises of eternal enlightenment during times of struggle and invasion

After its spread into China during the first century CE, Buddhism received several responses and perspectives over the course of the centuries that followed. Initially, people began to accept Buddhism when it was first introduced because they wanted stability after the collapse of the Han Dynasty during 220 CE as it promoted security. As time went on, people began to see the faults of Buddhism as imperial structure was restored in China during the Sui and Tang Dynasties around 570 CE, along with Confucianism being implemented once again. In between these responses were those who had an intermediate and neutral response to Buddhism, seeing it as equal to other philosophies at the time.

Responses to Buddhism varied depending on the political and religious order in China. In docs 1 and 2, the response was conversion and hope in times of political instability. In docs 3 and 5, the response was to practice not just Buddhism but other religions as well to coexist. In docs 4 and 6, Confucianism was reinstituted and the response to Buddhism was xenophobic and negative because Confucianism was being threatened.

Many people converted to Buddhism because it provided a message of hope and salvation in times of need. Rejected in India because of its lack of a hierarchal system, Buddhism quickly spread throughout China during the Han dynasty. Many common people gravitated towards the new religion and its philosophy on escaping suffering through meditation and prayer (Document 1). By the start of the Tang

Buddhism for centuries, has long been influencing the population all over the world, specifically in China . Buddhism first came to China as a result of merchant traders from India. From there it spread within the merchant community. It mainly expanded because it gave people a sense of hope and faith with the chaos they were experiencing from the collapse of the Han Dynasty. It also spread because it covered what Confucianism lacked; a more spiritual and emotional approach that appealed to many people of different classes. It is because of this that Buddhism spread and was able to influence and greatly affect China during the period of 300-900 CE. Buddhism influenced philosophy and moral teachings, kept the Chinese society peaceful and orderly, as well as affecting the overall economy. Buddhism had strong religious teachings that appealed to the lower class with the idea of afterlife and nirvana as well as an emphasis on following your own path that transformed Chinese beliefs causing a large portion of the population to convert (doc’s 1,4). Buddhism kept the Chinese society orderly by reminding all of Buddha’s life and teachings with statues and the influence it had on monks to spread charity and missionary work (doc’s 2,3,6). Buddhism also had an effect on the economy of China. As it spread from other regions, it caused more farmers and silk producers to convert and spread the religion as monks and nuns. (doc 7,5).

Thich Nhat Hanh combined a variety of traditional Zen teachings with the insights from Mahayana, methods from Theravada and ideas from Western psychology to offer a modern light on meditation practice. He was inspired to create Engaged Buddhism since he witnessed the suffering caused by the war and he wanted to practice Buddhism in a way that can bring help to the society. He became a leader for the Engaged Buddhism movement and promoted the individual's active role in creating changes.

practices. I must stress that this was not a formal or universal change in religion but a