Buddhism Essay -- essays research papers fc

Buddhism Buddhism is one of the biggest religions founded in India in the 6th and 5th cent. BC by Siddhartha Gautama, called the Buddha. One of the massive Asian religions teaches the practice of the observance of moral precepts. The basic doctrines include the four noble truths taught by the Buddha. Since it was first introduced into China from India, Buddhism has had a history that has been characterized by periods of sometimes awkward and irregular development. This has mainly been the result of the clash of two cultures, each with a long history of tradition. Most of the difficulties have arisen due to the transplanting of an Indian religious/philosophical system onto a culture strongly dominated by indigenous secular, philosophical and religious systems. In spite of these difficulties, Chinese Buddhism has stimulate to have an important influence on the growth and development of Buddhism in general and this has occurred largely because of its own innovatory contributions.(Eli ade, M. p.16-29) The spread of Buddhism into China began in Central Asia and was facilitated by the efforts of the Indo-Scythian king Kanishka (Encyclopedia Britt. 273-274) of the Kushan dynasty which govern in northern India, Afghanistan and parts of Central Asia in the 1st and 2nd centuries (Encyclopedia Britt. 274). He is said to have undergone an Ashoka-like conversion upon seeing the whacking caused by his campaigns. Around the beginning of the common era, Buddhism started to filter into China from Central Asia via the Silk Road, brought by monks, merchants and other travelers. It also entered later via trade routes around and through southeastern United States Asia. It was nurtured in the expatriate community of Loyang and other northern cities. (The Encyclopedia of Religion p58-62) Siddhartha (Buddha) was born around 563 B.C.E. in the town of Kapilavastu (located in todays Nepal). Siddharthas parents were King Shuddhodana and Queen Maya, who govern the Sakyas. His history i s a miraculous one... One night, Queen Maya dreamed that an elephant with six tusks, carrying a lotus flower in its trunk, touched her right side. At that bite her son was conceived. Brahmins (learned men) came and interpreted the dream. The child would be either the vastest king in the world or the greatest ascetic (a holy man who practices self-denial). The futurity child would be named Siddhartha, which means "he who... ...eligions and philosophies have their doctrines, values and functions. Within a specific time frame and space, different religions will serve and service a particular group of human beings towards kindness and wholesomeness. Amongst the right religions, in that respect is no such religion that is "better" than the others. However, since the wisdom and vision of the founders of the religions are different, at that place are different levels in their doctrines, different methods of teaching and different goals and objectives. Therefore, the exte nt of the gain grounds of the religions is different.(Hinnells, J, 45-68) Bibliography Bibliography Siddhartha Hesse, herman New York bantam 1951 Buddhism Central Asia and China. 1994. The New Encyclopedia Brittanica. (15th ed). Vol 23. Chicago Encyclopedia Brittanica Inc. pp.273-274. Buswell, R. (Ed). 1990. Chinese Buddhist apocrypha. Honolulu University of Hawaii Press. Eliade, M. (Ed). 1987. The Encyclopedia of Religion. New York Macmillan Publishing Company. Hinnells, J. (Ed). 1985. A handbook of living religions. London Penguin Books. Snelling, J. 1992. The Buddhist handbook A complete elapse to Buddhist teaching and practice. London Rider. Buddhism Essay -- essays research papers fc Buddhism Buddhism is one of the biggest religions founded in India in the 6th and 5th cent. BC by Siddhartha Gautama, called the Buddha. One of the great Asian religions teaches the practice of the observance of moral precepts. The basic doctrines include the four noble truths t aught by the Buddha. Since it was first introduced into China from India, Buddhism has had a history that has been characterized by periods of sometimes awkward and irregular development. This has mainly been the result of the clash of two cultures, each with a long history of tradition. Most of the difficulties have arisen due to the transplanting of an Indian religious/philosophical system onto a culture strongly dominated by indigenous secular, philosophical and religious systems. In spite of these difficulties, Chinese Buddhism has beat to have an important influence on the growth and development of Buddhism in general and this has occurred largely because of its own innovatory contributions.(Eliade, M. p.16-29) The spread of Buddhism into China began in Central Asia and was facilitated by the efforts of the Indo-Scythian king Kanishka (Encyclopedia Britt. 273-274) of the Kushan dynasty which ruled in northern India, Afghanistan and parts of Central Asia in the 1st and 2nd cent uries (Encyclopedia Britt. 274). He is said to have undergone an Ashoka-like conversion upon seeing the shambles caused by his campaigns. Around the beginning of the common era, Buddhism started to filter into China from Central Asia via the Silk Road, brought by monks, merchants and other travelers. It also entered later via trade routes around and through southeastern United States Asia. It was nurtured in the expatriate community of Loyang and other northern cities. (The Encyclopedia of Religion p58-62) Siddhartha (Buddha) was born around 563 B.C.E. in the town of Kapilavastu (located in todays Nepal). Siddharthas parents were King Shuddhodana and Queen Maya, who ruled the Sakyas. His history is a miraculous one... One night, Queen Maya dreamed that an elephant with six tusks, carrying a lotus flower in its trunk, touched her right side. At that bite her son was conceived. Brahmins (learned men) came and interpreted the dream. The child would be either the greatest king in the world or the greatest ascetic (a holy man who practices self-denial). The prox child would be named Siddhartha, which means "he who... ...eligions and philosophies have their doctrines, values and functions. Within a specific time frame and space, different religions will serve and benefit a particular group of human beings towards kindness and wholesomeness. Amongst the right religions, there is no such religion that is "better" than the others. However, since the wisdom and vision of the founders of the religions are different, there are different levels in their doctrines, different methods of teaching and different goals and objectives. Therefore, the extent of the benefits of the religions is different.(Hinnells, J, 45-68) Bibliography Bibliography Siddhartha Hesse, herman New York bantam 1951 Buddhism Central Asia and China. 1994. The New Encyclopedia Brittanica. (15th ed). Vol 23. Chicago Encyclopedia Brittanica Inc. pp.273-274. Buswell, R. (Ed). 1990. Chinese Buddhist apocrypha. Honolulu University of Hawaii Press. Eliade, M. (Ed). 1987. The Encyclopedia of Religion. New York Macmillan Publishing Company. Hinnells, J. (Ed). 1985. A handbook of living religions. London Penguin Books. Snelling, J. 1992. The Buddhist handbook A complete shoot to Buddhist teaching and practice. London Rider.