Essay Mahayana Buddhism

Albert Einstein once said, “Buddhism has the characteristics of what would be expected in a cosmic religion for the future: it transcends a personal God, avoids dogmas and theology; it covers both the natural & spiritual, and it is based on a religious sense aspiring from the experience of all things, natural and spiritual, as a meaningful unity.” I though this quote was an interesting beginning into seeing how this ancient religion changed over the course of its existence. I feel that Buddhism has changed over time but has maintained that core teaching that it had with the early Indians and with the Theravada teachings. Mahayana just happens to be the more loose teachings of the Buddha. The term used in

So that is the Buddhism, its origin, beliefs and connections with individual. The Buddha is just a normal human being. He did not ask people to do anything; he just showed the way to get the true happiness, to reach the Nirvana that he was in. His teachings are certainly true and close to life. I would conclude with one of his most beautiful sayings about life,

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.

In return, all living beings too, teach as well as promote inner happiness in Buddhism for the sake of nature and objects. The range of space around one’s enlightenment can enlighten others, filling them with realization. Once an individual realizes, he will not stop realizing. Therefore, everything is connected as one. Once the enlighten starts by one individual, it spreads endlessly toward everything around with

Buddhists must understand the Four Noble Truths and develop and enrich the Noble Eightfold Path to end suffering and achieve Nirvana. According to Elizabeth (1997), “The Four Noble Truths are: The first Noble Truth – Suffering exists, the second Noble Truth – There is a reason for suffering, the third Noble Truth – There is a way to end suffering, the fourth Noble Truth – The way to end suffering is through the Eightfold Path.” (p. 109) The Buddha’s way to end suffering is when all desire ends and letting go of all attachments, to do this Buddhists practice and follow the rules of the Noble Eightfold Path, which are considered the “right” way to go about their daily lives. According to Osborn (1996), “The Eightfold Path rules are: Right understanding, Right intentions, Right speech, Right action, Right livelihood, Right effort, Right mindfulness, Right concentration.”

Many seek increases awareness in their lives, with the ultimate goal of reaching true enlightenment, or Nirvana (Wendt Center, 2015).

Buddhism teaches tolerance to their followers (Van Voorst, 2013). One of their defining characteristics is meditation. A majority of their followers believe that the meditation contributes to an out of body experience, dreams, visions, answered prayers, and healing (Thanissaro, 2015). Another defining characteristic of the Buddhism religion is for their followers to become enlightened when their beliefs become parallel with the institutional authority and scriptural authority. The Buddhist principles of the search for truth, beauty, and justice should always be maintained in the center of their lives (Kabilsingh,

Mahayana school of thought focus on the natural growth and progression of the Dharma. It is also path of the Bodhisattva seeking complete enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings and once enlightened, can establish the Dharma. Enlightenment can be attained in a single lifetime, and this can be accomplished even by a layperson.

Buddhism is the most prevailing religion in Asia with about 379 million followers. Buddhism believes in following the “Enlightened” path, which is to live life serenely and without desires. This action was very challenging to accomplish, but it allowed you to associate with yourself internally. Buddhism impacted the world by expressing the belief of the 4 noble truths, offering the idea of reincarnation, and to follow certain traditions in physical appearance. The 4 noble truths were the main components in following the “Enlightened” path by explaining how the suffering is caused by people’s desires and that they need to release those to feel free. Reincarnation led other people to believe that when you die, your soul would be born into a new life, which gave the thought about other “realms” that may exist. Also, the physical appearance of Buddhists/monks was different because they would wear clothes that helped them see their natural beauty.

The key beliefs of Buddhism are that there is a personal spirit inside everyone that you must go on a journey to enlighten. A Buddhists life goal is to be enlightened. Enlightenment is a state of knowledge and wisdom. When a Buddhist becomes enlightened they have found the truth about life.

Mahayana Buddhism is one of two branches of Buddhism that follow additional teachings beyond what their divine power Buddha had set into place. In Phillip Novak’s book, The World’s Wisdom, he says, “Yet there are beings whose eyes are only a little covered with dust: they will understand the truth” (59). Buddha is saying that he will provide a way and guide his followers to that truth. Since the Mahayanists believe that no human goal can be achieved without the

I found this interesting because with enlightenment comes eternal peacefulness or nirvana, who would not want that? Unfortunately after the monks reach enlightenment something is supposed to have happened, but apparently they believe you have to reach enlightenment in order to find out (Sanit).

Buddhist practices, like meditation are ways of changing yourself in order to develop qualities of awareness, wisdom and kindness. The experience developed within the Buddhist tradition over thousands of years has created an incomparable resource for all those who wish to follow a path, a path which ultimately leads to enlightenment or Buddhahood. An enlightened person sees the nature of reality clearly, just as it is, and lives fully and organically in accordance with that revelation. This is the goal of the Buddhist spiritual life, representing the end of suffering for anyone who attains

Buddhist teachings consist of teaching others how to end suffering in their own lives. Buddha teaches that if you follow an eightfold path, then you are moving toward reaching nirvana. This is the end of all suffering and the goal of all Buddhists.

Buddhism      For over 2000 years Buddhism has existed as an organized religion. By religion we mean that it has a concept of the profane, the sacred, and approaches to the sacred. It has been established in India, China, Japan and other eastern cultures for almost 2000 years and has gained a strong foothold in North America and Europe in the past few centuries. However, one might ask; what fate would Buddhism face had Siddartha Guatama been born in modern times; or more specifically in modern day North America? Would his new found enlightenment be accepted now as it was thousands of years ago?