Buddhism Vs Religion

A question which may or may not have an answer is one I am trying to figure out in this essay. Does Buddhism fall into the category of a religion or a philosophy mindset. This is a simple question however, the answer is not as simple. A brief look into Buddhism in the past shows that it began around the 5th century B.C. in India, then gradually gaining in popularity and moving Eastward [Cooking the Buddhist Books, 2]. Buddhism was a way to live your life by the principles told by the original Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama. The Buddha said that in order for one were to reach nirvana like himself then he must accept the Four Noble Truths and set forth on the Eightfold Path. After the Buddha past away, the people who were the followers of Buddhism didn’t know where to continue, so they held a first council and began the Sangha, or the Buddhist community. The Sangha leaders decided what was required for others to join and begin their path to enlightenment. The Sangha had it ups and downs over the years and broke off into many different sects of Buddhism. Buddhism which ended up all over the World, to places like China, Japan, and the United States. For this essay I plan to compare and contrast the elements of past and present …show more content…
Philosophy is defined by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary as “all learning exclusive of technical precepts and practical arts”. Which is a complicated way of saying that learning the mindset without practicing the aspects of an organized group. In relation to Buddhism this would mean learning about Buddhism but not going all the way and begin joining the Sangha. Religion defined by the same source is “a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices”. I think the key piece that separates the two is that a person who practices a faith philosophically chooses not to be apart of an institution that systemizes what parts they must