World Religions Book Report: Living Buddha, Living Christ Essay

This source helps provide an idea of how mindfulness will play a role in our healthcare today and the future. I want to use this source for that specific reason and to show its role in my own chosen profession of a physician. The article discusses many costs saving measures when mindfulness is applied and there is a potential of billions to be saved.

Buddhism has been around for over two thousand years, and continues to do so in many countries around the world. This religion originates in Asia and has a very unique adversity, much of its structure arose from the end of World War II, predominantly Asian nations needed to restructure society (RoAT 167). The word ‘Buddha’ means one who has awakened and will no longer be reborn. Thereafter, one who will enter nirvana, the state of being free from suffering.

The Kannon Bosatsu, or Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, is a carved wood statue of a Bodhisattva figure standing about two and one half to three meters tall. This statue shows a high level of detail on the Bodhisattva 's body, and is carved so smoothly that it could be mistaken for a stone carving. The show of skilled craftsmanship can be seen around the shoulders with the interaction of the cloth with the jewelry the Bodhisattva. The statue is placed on an ornate pedestal to cause the figurine to appear taller, giving it a feeling of authority, which contrasts with its calm, expressionless face. While the figure appears to be standing in a meditative state like the Buddha, the jewelry present all over the body of this figure distinguishes this figure as a Bodhisattva instead of a Buddha. In his book, The Story of Buddhism a Concise guide to Its History and Teachings, Donald S. Lopez Jr. establishes the importance of imagery in Buddhism. One major point he makes concerning the worship of Buddhist figures, is that the disciples of Buddhism not only believe that the figures are a mere representation of Buddha, but that the figures actually become and are animated by Buddha, an argument which seems to hold merit as truth.

When reading a Record of Buddhist Kingdoms, by Fa-hsien I recognized a recurring theme. Fa-hsiens travels, through different kingdoms provides the reader with insight on the life and teachings of Buddha, and the tenets of the religion he founded. Although I recognized many themes, I will reflect on three that I found insightful, and inspiring. They are self-denial, Kindness to strangers, and sacrifice.

The reading Going Home: Jesus and Buddha as Brothers written by Thich Nhat Hanh, a Vietnamese Buddhist monk, is about one finding within, the best of you. Finding your best qualities and acting upon it will improve your spiritual life. Each person is born with unique abilities that distinguish one from the rest. One must believe can be our best selves pushing others and oneself to do well by understanding each other beliefs and impacting each other’s lives. Thus, overcoming the differences in faith, like brothers and sisters, enriching you spiritually; increasing mindfulness, meaning, and peace in this life.

Even when we are presented with answers or guides to the many questions we have about life and to how we should live, as inquisitive animals, we strive to enhance our understanding and so begin to learn that perhaps, ultimately, the answers don’t simply come from outside but also from within us. This is then perhaps the greatest implication of this paper, finding new ways in understanding what the true way of life is for human beings and what the true way of life is for ourselves. In the discussion of Zen Buddhism, William A. Young’s framework’s itself must first be explained and understood.

It is said that history is shaped by the lives of great men.  Great men are leaders.  They bring about change; they improve the lives of others; they introduce new ideas, models, and theories to society.  Most of the world's religions were founded, developed, or discovered by great men.  Two particular religions - Christianity and Buddhism - developed in different parts of the world, under different circumstances, and in different social atmospheres.  But each religion is based upon the teachings of a great man.  When one compares the life of Buddha with the life of Jesus, one finds that the two share many things in common.  This essay aims to compare and contrast the lives of Buddha1 and Jesus in two key areas:  conception and birth.

Mindfulness is an act of learning to direct one 's attention to their experience as they unfolds moment by moment, with open-minded curiosity and acceptance. Katherin (2012) states that mindfulness trains us to respond skilfully to whatever is happening at that moment, be it good or bad, rather than worrying about what has happened or might happen. Studies of brain imaging have shown that the structures and function of the brain is reliably and profoundly altered to improve the quality of both feeling and thought by mindfulness practice.

Mindfulness is another way of meditation. Meditation was used to seek to improve one’s psychological or physical health, or spiritual growth. (Brantley, 2007). The history of Mindfulness comes from Buddhism and his search for enlightenment and a foundation of the four noble truths. The Buddha teaching focus on the four noble truths which consist of knowing suffering exists, there is a cause of suffering, there is cessation of suffering and there is a path that leads to the cessation of suffering. (Van Gordon, 2015). The four noble truths were not only there to represent the Buddha’s experiential understanding of suffering, but also to express the truth (Van Gordon, 2015). Studies of Buddhism and the Four Noble Truths teach us that there is always going to be suffering in our life but to find ways to overcome suffering (Tsering, 2005).

The notion of interbing echoes the early Buddhist concept of Anatmen- “No-Self.” According to the early teachings of the Buddha, self is made of the five aggregates: form, feelings, perceptions, mental formations and consciousness. There is no permanent substance existing as self. Selfhood is constituted of “non-self elements” and cannot exist by itself alone. It has to inter-be with the five aggregates. None of the five aggregates is permanent or independent. The five aggregates have to inter-be with each other. Although selfhood is empty of “self”, it is full of the fiver aggregates, full of everything and full of life.

At first glance the traditions of Christianity and Buddhism appear very different from each other. One centers around a God that was at one time physically manifest on earth in the human form of his "son" Jesus Christ, the other primarily worships a historical figure that gained divine status through enlightenment. This assessment is broad at best, especially in the case of Buddhism where the Theravada and Mahayana traditions differ significantly. Christianity also has division within itself, the most prominent being between the Roman Catholic and Protestant systems. There are however, despite obvious differences, some very interesting similarities between Buddhism and

Mindfulness is an incredible skill, it is a practice that is taking the world by storm and helping more and more people live in their present.

E. Preview Main Points: Today we will take an in-depth look at the beliefs of the Four Noble Truths and Karma and the customs of meditation and the Sacred Mandela. We will also explore its history in India and of Buddha, and how the Dalai Lama and Thich Nhat Hanh have truly shaped this life changing religion.

In The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching, Thich Nhat Hanh provides a citation from the Buddha, which gives insight into the cure of our distress. “I teach only suffering and the transformation of suffering” (Thich Nhat

Mindfulness is the energy to be presently aware of your surroundings, yourself, and others in every moment of your daily life. To be mindful is more than just knowing that you’re hearing something, seeing something, or feeling something. In other words, it’s more than just knowing “what’s going on.” To be mindful is to be insightful. For example, when an individual realizes that they are angry they only allow themselves to feel anger and fail to realize that sadness, fear, and pain are all tied in with being angry. When one finally acknowledges that many emotions can tie in with one emotion, then they are insightful. They become mindful.