Buddhism - Historical development | Britannica Expansion of Buddhism The Buddha was a charismatic leader who founded a distinctive religious community based on his unique teachings. Some of the members of that community were, like the Buddha himself, wandering ascetics. Others were laypersons who venerated the Buddha, followed certain aspects of his teachings, and provided the wandering ascetics with the material support that they required. Read More on This Topic China: Buddhism The Buddhist age of China began in the 4th century. In the centuries following the Buddha’s death, the story of his life was remembered and embellished, his teachings were preserved and developed, and the community that he had established became a significant religious force. During its first century of existence, Buddhism spread from its place of origin in Magadha and Kosala throughout much of northern India, including the areas of Mathura and Ujjayani in the west. About the beginning of the Common Era, distinctively Mahayana tendencies began to take shape.
Misconceptions and Myths about Buddhism More than 400 million people worldwide practice Buddhism, representing about 7% of the world’s population. Despite the prevalence of Buddhism as a religion, however, many people still believe common misconceptions about it. If you are interested in Buddhism, you may be surprised to learn that some things you thought you knew about it are not true. Here’s a look at the top 10 myths about Buddhism to help clear up some misunderstandings. 1. Buddhism is Only Practiced in China People often associate Buddhism with China, partly due to the common sight of Buddhist statues in Chinese restaurants. In fact, historical accounts claim that origami, the Japanese art of paper folding, was first brought to Japan by Buddhists monks. 2. Since we mentioned Buddhist statues, we should clarify that most of these statues do not actually depict the original Buddha, Siddharta Gautama. 3. 4. 5. On the flip side, some folks who recognize that Buddhism is a religion believe Buddhists worship Buddha. 6. 7. 8. 9.
Ten misconceptions about Buddhism | UCLA Robert E. Buswell Jr. and Donald S. Lopez Jr. | November 19, 2013 Robert E. Buswell Jr. 1. Meditation is often identified as the central practice of Buddhism. 2. In fact, there are hundreds of forms of Buddhist meditation, some for developing deep states of concentration and mental bliss, some for analyzing the constituents of mind and body to find that there is no self, some for meeting the Buddha face to face. 3. Bhikṣu, the Sanskrit term translated as "monk," literally means "beggar." 4. It is often said that a war has never been fought in the name of Buddhism. 5. Buddhism has many philosophical schools, with a sophistication equal to that of any philosophical school that developed in Europe. 6. Buddhism has an elaborate pantheon of celestial beings (devas, etymologically related to the English word "divinity") and advanced spiritual beings (bodhisattvas and buddhas), who occupy various heavens and pure lands and who respond to the prayers of the devout. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Buddhism - Definition, Founder & Origins Buddhism Beliefs and Practices Some key Buddhism beliefs include: Followers of Buddhism don’t acknowledge a supreme god or deity. They instead focus on achieving enlightenment—a state of inner peace and wisdom. When followers reach this spiritual echelon, they’re said to have experienced nirvana.The religion’s founder, Buddha, is considered an extraordinary being, but not a god. The word Buddha means “enlightened.”The path to enlightenment is attained by utilizing morality, meditation and wisdom. A gold Buddha figure at the Longhua Temple in the south of Shanghai, first built in A.D. 242. Who Was the Buddha? Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism who later became known as “the Buddha,” lived during the 5th century B.C. Gautama was born into a wealthy family as a prince in present-day Nepal. Religions of Ancient China He decided to give up his lavish lifestyle and endure poverty. When Gautama passed away around 483 B.C., his followers began to organize a religious movement. Dharma Sources
Buddhism in China Today: An Adaptable Present, a Hopeful Future | Buddhistdoor By Buddhistdoor Buddhistdoor Global |2018-01-22| Devotees burn joss sticks at a Buddhist temple. During the New Year of 2017, 70,000 Buddhist devotees impatiently jostled against each other in the halls and courtyards of the majestic Yonghe Temple, in the heart of Beijing. Fast forward to the present day, and even though Buddhism might still have its elite circles, the majority of temples have long been accessible to casual visitors and pilgrims. Many might have been disappointed, had they paid attention to the stance of the Buddhist Association of China (BAC)—the official organ regulating Buddhist institutions on behalf of the Chinese government—on the offering of incense. Yonghe temple in Beijing. The uneasiness with associations of Buddhism with “superstitious belief” provides a good hint about what is considered legitimate Buddhism by the Buddhist Association of China, and by extension by the Communist Party of China (CPC), the political party that governs the country. See more
How western Buddhism has changed in 50 years | Buddhism It's 50 years since Buddhist teachers started arriving in the west in the early 60s and Buddhism crash-landed into the counterculture. So what have we learned about western Buddhism? 1. It's not all about enlightenment. Many who found Buddhism in the 60s saw nirvana as the ultimate peak experience. A decade later these recovering hippies were painfully finding out that Buddhism is more concerned with reshaping character and behaviour than big, mystical experiences. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Buddhism on Health and Illness For Buddhism, physical suffering is an inevitable part of life. Like old age and death, sickness is unavoidable and bound to produce some degree of suffering. This does not mean that one should not mitigate pain through available medical means, but if suffering remains, it should be accepted and mindfully endured.
Spread of Buddhism in Asia — Study Buddhism The expansion of Buddhism throughout most of Asia was peaceful, and occurred in several ways. Shakyamuni Buddha, as a travelling teacher sharing his insights with those who were receptive and interested from the nearby kingdoms, set the precedent. He instructed his monks to go forth in the world and expound his teachings. He did not ask others to denounce and give up their own religion and convert to a new one, for he was not seeking to establish his own religion. Buddha’s aim was merely to help others overcome the unhappiness and suffering that they were creating for themselves, due to their lack of understanding of reality. Sometimes, the process evolved organically. Often, the dissemination was due primarily to the influence of a powerful monarch who had adopted and supported Buddhism himself.
How the Coronavirus Helps Us Understand the Buddhist View of Our Interdependence For centuries, Buddhism has offered the teaching that’s been called “dependent origination” or “interdependent origination.” This means that nothing exists independently in our world. Everything is interconnected. We exist in a complex web of life that is continually changing. Now, rather than consulting with Buddhist texts written by psychologically-minded masters, we have a lowly virus teaching us about our interdependence. Psychologists and researchers like John Gottman, PhD, have been telling us for years that our relationships can only thrive as we become aware of how we affect each other. COVID-19 invites us to realize that we affect each other in ways that could mean life or death (or serious illness). We have an opportunity to realize on a deeper level that we’re part of a much larger web of life than our minds can comprehend. The virus reminds us of the implications of dependent origination, which is a core principles of Buddhist psychology. Related Articles