Dukkha

Japan in the 1600s and 1700s was controlled by a system of Tokugawa shoguns who ruled effectively. They instituted union, order, and peace during the reign. Japan was unified under 3 important leaders, Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu who enforced unification within Japan. During this time Japan was going through many changes too, like urbanization, creating an ordered society, and also sustaining traditional ways. The two major religions in the 1600s and 1700s were…

Buddhism and Hinduism are the two main religions in India. They are two of the world’s most influential religions that arose in South Asia. Buddhism is practiced in two forms, Theravada, the ancient form of Buddhism, and Mahayana, the developed form of Buddhism. Hinduism and Buddhism share many similarities as well as differences in various different aspects, like the beliefs, gods and goddesses worshipped, the place of worship, and the founder of the religion. They both have many similar…

A savior is well-known as a religious figure who saves someone or something from danger, whereas a spiritual teacher gives knowledge to an individual with little or no understanding of spiritual facts. The title “Buddha” is applied to Siddhartha Gautama the same way “Christ” is applied to Jesus. Buddhism and Christianity are both religions that have many followers throughout the world. Each group of followers within these religions view their leaders; Jesus and Buddha as Saviors. The religion…

Around the age of thirty Siddhartha, sees the Four Passing Signs and forgoes his life of luxuries and attachments to his wife and son, to become a wandering ascetic. It was considered respectable for noblemen in India during Siddhartha’s time to go off in search of truth, but in retirement, not as a young man. (Gach) Perhaps he was influenced by Vardhamana who had done the same thing a few years earlier forming Jainism. According to the traditional accounts, Siddhartha follows an ascetic life…

In the story of Bhagavad-Gita it discusses how people can achieve Nirvana. In order to achieve Nirvana one must Honor their dharma, not engage in inaction , avoid attachment and be wise and steady. In Hindu and Buddha cultures it is very important to them to achieve Nirvana , although they have different views of nirvana. In the Hindu culture one can achieve nirvana while living , and they see nirvana as a union with ultimate reality. In the Buddhist culture they view nirvana as ridding…

Many philosophers and other devout pessimist have made claims that the Buddhist lifestyle is ultimately pessimistic. It’s easy to take the teachings of the buddha and apply them to a pessimistic lifestyle but the basis of pessimism is denial and that’s the opposite of what the buddha was attempting to teach. The basis of Buddhism is the four noble truths which are the existence of suffering, that suffering has a cause, that there is a cessation of suffering, and that the Eightfold path is the…

Closing Statement: In conclusion, from a historical perspective both Ch’an and Pure Land Buddhism are popular religions around the world. Yet Pure Land Buddhism has been designated as a “discrete school”, while Ch’an Buddhism has enjoyed immense admiration since its inception (Sharf 238). Evidence of this popularity is linked to prominent medieval Chinese monasteries; this demonstrates its deep historical roots, while Pure Land Buddhism has no such links (Sharf 238). While we do not argue…

Inventing Tibet For question one, the author's central argument is about Tibet's religious and cultural heritage were not always the same as most Westerners view of Tibet. One aspects of the idealized notion of Tibet, where most Westerners look as the locus of sublime ancient wisdom or a "Shangri-La" view of Tibet. Europeans and Americans proclaimed themselves to be in search of a new paradigm , one based on moral and spiritual principles instead of the destructive forces of market…

It is said that from the earliest times man has been hopelessly religious. Religion is concerned with the shared beliefs and practices of humans. Religion has defined nations, given purpose to people’s lives, and even started wars. It is the response to elements in life and the environment which is beyond mankind’s comprehension. There are many different religions in the world from different regions; however, they all have basic similarities and differences between them. Some of the world’s…

This art work is based upon the book Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse. The book is the story of a man’s journey to try to find Nirvana. Nirvana is a state of enlightenment, true happiness. It follows Siddhartha, who tries many different paths to reach Nirvana and finally realizes the key is a balance of both the material world and the spiritual. He follows the Brahmins, the Samanas, and even Gotama (The Buddha) until he abandons the spiritual path and searches for enlightenment through the material…