What Is Buddhism?

There is survival after death where the death becomes parts of the soul and the body.

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.

ascends into Heaven, thus creating that idea that one is capable of immortality, even if you have

| There is no eternal Life when we die that is it we get put in the ground, nothing else happens except we decompose.

infernal, a corpse unburied, unhonored, all unhallowed. In such you have no part, nor have

always changing and the desire for people to never die does not exist, which can lead to

Buddhism began with a man, his name was Siddhartha Gautama. They say that Siddhartha was barely man, he was not a god or supernatural being, but as they say he was an exceptional man who underwent an extraordinary experience. In a nut shell he opened his eyes or “woke up” and saw human life in it full condition, and to the meaning of transcending it. From here on forward he got the name “Buddha”.

Buddhism is a religion to about 300 million people around the world. The word comes from 'budhi' meaning to awaken. It originated about 2,500 years ago when Siddhartha Gotama, known as the Buddha, was himself awakened or enlightened at the age of thirty five. In about the sixth century B.C. Siddhartha Gautama was born into a royal family. When he was young his experiences with the outside world drove him to seek out a greater understanding of life and spiritual fulfilment. Through seeking guidance and meditation, Siddhartha achieved enlightenment. From that point, he was known as the Buddha. For the rest of his life, the Buddha travelled great distances teaching people about one path to salvation. After the Buddha's death, his followers continued

Hindus do not eat meat, animals, therefore they are vegan or vegetarian. As a part of their culture, they do not believe in death instead they believe in rebirth, also known as reincarnation. Depending on how the follower lives their current life will determine of the cycle of rebirth continues or breaks the cycle. Hindus believe that one God that exist in everything. As a result, the followers strive to live in a productive manner. Everyday worship becomes a tradition at home or the Prana Pratishtha Mahotsava. Prayer is performed twice a day using Hindu scriptures, called Vedas. As believers admire the qualities represented by Gods and Goddesses, they strive to live a pure life in the shadow of the ancient creator. Gods can be separated from

This is known to be the cause of all misery (similar to original sin) and the foundation of the cycle of saṃsāra. Buddhism originally teaches that physical immortality is not a path to enlightenment. It is also not an attainable goal. It is told that even the gods, who can live for long periods of time, will eventually

The majority of human beings, at the end of their lives, want to be able to say that they have lived life to the fullest. It can be said that people’s definitions of what is “good” vary from person to person. However, there are often specific similarities in the beliefs and perceptions of those who have been able to achieve lives of happiness and contentment. Epicurus, in his Letter to Menoeceus, states that one who has a “clear and certain understanding of these things” will be able to properly pursue the pleasures associated with a happy and blessed life and avoid those pains that prevent one from doing so (2). He claims that “these things” are beliefs regarding various aspects of life, including one’s relationship with the gods, perception of death, what can and cannot be controlled, and the dismissal of a short, yet pleasant life for a long life. Epicurus states that by living life with an understanding of “these things” in mind, one becomes wise and is then able to live and do well and attain that sought-after pleasant life that is free from pain and free from fear.

Buddhism’s founder was a man named Siddhartha Gautama, meaning “one who realized his goal.” Buddhists believe that when Siddhartha’s mother, Maha, was conceived she had a dream involving a white elephant carrying a lotus flower. She interpreted the dream to mean that her son would grow up to become a great spiritual leader. Just a week after Siddhartha was born, his mother died. Upon her death, he lived with his wealthy aunt and his father on a large estate. As Siddhartha grew up, his father kept him away from all suffering and anguish of the world. Unlike many of his peers, he was well educated and free from the world’s sorrows.

The series of events is replicated on the third day. The soul must overcome self-centeredness. If not, he will react to the god with fear. If the soul reacts to the god with fear he is pulled into the human realm where his next life will take place. The God of Eternal Life appears on the fourth day. If the being has an adverse response to the god because of stinginess and excessive attachment to wealth and materialism, he will be pulled into reincarnation in the Preta-Loka. The Preta-Loka is a realm of starving ghosts who have enormous stomachs and extremely small throats. These ghosts meander about in a continuous condition of unfulfilled voracious desire. God arises in the appearance of an Almighty Conqueror on the fifth day. If jealously unseats the soul on the fifth day the being is born into the Asura-Loka. This is a domain of

sense of finality that man is mortal and will not last forever in any form or

Islam is as a major religion has extensive teachings about these stages of life, the prophet of Islam said in his prophetic sayings regarding life and death,” Work for your life on earth as if you are going to live forever, and worship God as if you’re going to die tomorrow.” Some verses in the Qur’an regarding the stages of life are 2:28 “How can you disbelieve in God when you were lifeless and he brought you to life; then he will cause you to die, then he will bring you (back) to life, and then to him you will be returned.” In other chapter 40:11 “They will say, ”Our Lord, you made us lifeless twice and gave us life twice, and we have confessed our sins.” Other verses 99:6-8 “That day will mankind will proceed in scattered groups that they may be shown their deeds. So whoever does good equal to the weight of an atom (or a small ant), shall see it. And whosoever does evil equal to the weight of an atom (or a small ant), shall see it.”