What Makes You Not a Buddhist by Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse

During the Han Dynasty, Buddha’s teachings were introduced to China by Central-Asian traders and received little support from the Han dynasty rulers. However, after the collapse of the Han Dynasty, the country was fragmented. While northern China was dominated by invaders from the borderland and steppes, southern China was ruled by continuous “Chinese” dynasties. As a result, Buddhism appealed to people who felt baffled by the loss of an anticipated and durable society. Subsequently, in 581 CE, Sui emperor Wendi reunified China with this new religion and gained state support, therefore further spreading Buddhism. It was not until the Tang Dynasty did the Chinese rulers realize the threat Buddhism had posed on them. Consequently, during the

Beginning in the 5th century, Buddhism became a very popular form of religion throughout Asia. Because this was such a diverse and widely followed religion, it introduced many different architectural and innovational developments that had influence from Buddhism, but depending on the region, the styles changed. Also, High officials, like Ashoka, whose’ primary influence came from Buddhism, created practices for his people to follow and live by to bring peace to his kingdom. As this religion was gaining popularity throughout Asia, the transformation that it took was very diverse and long term.

Most Buddhists instead of becoming monks or nuns, they integrate their religious practice into the socioeconomic facets of the average individual’s life. Philosophically, this idea of universal salvation is based upon the doctrine of interdependence. Similarly, it has been determined that individual salvation is both ethically and conceptually impossible. This is why there are bodhisattvas who help individuals reach Pure Land. Bodhisattva take a vow, which is referred to the vow of the “enlightened being.” Bodhisattvas suspend “complete disappearance”) and to remain in this world of samsāra, in this world of rebirth and suffering, until all beings in the universe are saved as well. Bodhisattvas subscribe to the idea

It goes without saying that I learned so much in Religious Studies 101. I was introduced to multiple world religions that were foreign to me prior to taking the class. I never felt the need to explore any other religion besides Christianity because I was content with my faith. However, after learning about different religions and interacting with people that are not Christian, and grew up with different beliefs and values, I now find myself questioning reconsidering my beliefs. By being exposed to the rituals and ideas of cultures and religions across the globe, I find myself wondering what it would be like to follow some of these principles or to try some of these practices for myself. I find myself trying to follow the moral guidelines and principles of the traditions I learn about all the time. It has helped me ask even more questions and broadened my horizons. It 's helping me shape my beliefs and find out who I want to become. I was especially fascinated with Buddhism and have grown a huge admiration for it. In my learning portfolio I will examine what I learned about Buddhism and what about it is so appealing to me. I will also briefly summarize that I learned that Buddhism – just like any other religions, is not flawless and cannot provide a perfect view of life that would be influential enough for me to devote my faith to it. However, there are certain

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

This paper is a book report on “Living Buddha, Living Christ,” written by, Thich Nhat Hanh. In this paper I will discuss the four themes; Mindfulness, Understanding, Interbeing, and Wisdom. I will define the themes, and explain how each theme listed is a part of my life and whether this theme, can be co-related along with my faith.

This is a nice intro into Buddhism, Ishwor. Please include a hyperlink in MWA1 for any outside sources.

Whenever I thought of Buddhist I saw bald men or women with orange robes, white socks, and brown sandals. Obviously, not the older woman with gray hair that was now facing me and the other twenty congregants in the meditation room. She was obviously the leader.

Originating in north - eastern India, the Buddhist tradition has grown to be popular and an intellectually complex religion. With a unique culture, this differentiates Buddhism from other religions. The complexity of Buddhism influenced by Buddhist schools changes an individual 's perspective and attitudes. Interpretation of the stimulus will vary from a Theravada to a Mahayana Buddhist as their core beliefs of Buddhism differ from each other. This essay will analyse the views of a Mahayana and Theravada Buddhist towards the cartoon drawn by an Australian cartoonist and artist, Michael Leunig. While also examining the stimulus’s association towards The First Noble Truth, The Fourth Noble Truth and Eightfold path, Buddhist beliefs and The Five Aggregates; matter, sensation, perception, mental formation and consciousness.

The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka provides an interesting perspective to the American experience through the eye of Japanese women around the time of World War 2. The author uses a number of unique writing techniques which originally confused me, but once accustomed created an immersive and intimate reading experience. Otsuka also inserts a number of metaphors and symbols throughout the novel with various possibilities for explanation depending on the opinion of the reader.

The Little Buddha is an amazing, and uplifting movie, and full of positive meaning, yet it also is full of religious meaning. Aspects of life and death are shown throughout the movie, but the film mainly explains three key aspects of Buddhism. Buddhist teachings of reincarnation, impermanence, and enlightenment, are connected deeply to each other and is illustrated throughout the film. The first Buddhist teaching of reincarnation is evident from the beginning of the movie. The audience starts to see these teachings when a Buddhist teacher is making it evident to his student (Lama Norbu) that he is ready to reincarnate, after he passes away. Lama finds out that there are three potential reincarnations of his teacher’s soul. These reincarnates

After the opening chapter of the novel in which the narrator writes, "Just in my swim shorts, barefooted, wild-haired, in the red fire dark, singing, swigging wine, spitting, jumping, running- that's the way to live" (7), I knew that the book was not only going to be interesting, but also great. I was not displeased after finishing it either. The Dharma Bums struck me as being one of the most fantastic books that I have ever read; one that contains an amazingly simple and captivating plot, an introduction and insight into the Buddhist philosophy and its followers of the 50's, and also contains the most provocative insight and philosophy about humanity and life. After the finishing the last page,

The book Buddhism Plain and Simple, by Steve Hagen, caught my attention and became more interesting to me than I thought. I have always heard of the religion Buddhism, but I never knew what it was all about. I never thought that Buddhism was as huge as it is. I knew that it existed in other countries, but I never knew what exact countries. Many of the views in this book surprised me and the book taught me a lot about morals and better ways to live your life. The word “ Awareness” is talked heavily all through this book. For Buddhists, this is probably the most important aspect in their religion.

Albert Einstein once said, “the religion of the future will be a cosmic religion. It should transcend a personal god, avoid dogmas and theology. Covering both the natural and spiritual, it should be based on a religious sense arising from the experience of all natural and spiritual and a meaningful unity. Buddhism answers this description. If there is any religion that would cope with modern scientific needs it would be Buddhism.”# Many great minds like Albert Einstein have converted or become Buddhists. Many people from the west are turning their attention towards Buddhism because of the Buddha’s simple way to life and the lack of worship or prayer to a divine being.

A slightly embarrassing truth for me is that this is the first time I’ve been exposed to real Buddhism. I’ve known about the Buddha and that Buddha was one of many of the enlightened ones, but I never learned the core beliefs. I did not actively seek information about Buddhism and therefore, the majority of what I know comes directly from the Buddhism book and what I’ve learned in class. I’m somewhat grateful for this because it means that I’m starting from a clean slate and that I will thus have fresh eyes to look upon the teachings of the Buddha through the author’s eyes. When reading “Buddhism plain & simple” I keep thinking that the book is organized like a full course meal. The author hints through the introduction of the meal to come giving the reader appetizers. Appetizing words such as “liberation of the mind” through “self-awareness”, and explains that seeing things as they are is the way to enlightenment; there is nothing more or less to it. After explain who the Buddha was, the Author Steven Hagen expands on this throughout the whole book; Along with explaining the four truths, the Eightfold path, what to do with these teachings, and at the near end relates again to the reader that they are the final authority. Yet the meal is still not done, the final course, dessert is an explanation of the twelve-link chain that we bind ourselves to dukkha or as page 25 calls it the suffering or dissatisfaction that comes from a wheel off kilter. Just when I thought the author