Dharma

Religions can change over time and location. Every time a change occurs, a certain number of people are unhappy with how their current religion is fitting them and their lifestyle, and thus make small or big changes to it. Buddhism is no exception. There are many different types of Buddhism: Theravada, Mahayana, Vajrayana, Pureland, Zen, and others. Every one is similar, but also has some key differences, not only in geographical location, but also in key ideas and practices. Some might say…

Social hierarchy is the arrangement of people in a society into groups. It is present in all societies in some form, and multiple religions detail societal hierarchy. Two such religions, Buddhism and Hinduism, have many followers (Buddhism has 440 million, Hinduism has 1.6 billion), but despite both having high numbers, they have varying views on social hierarchy. In Hinduism, there is a caste system detailing societal roles, contrasted in Buddhism with no caste system. However, both religions…

the procession is of divine luminosity. 8) Sangh yatra or Charipalit Sanah or Padayatra Sangh : The fourfold society of Jain commence a holy travel from place to place on bare foot having darshan of Jain temples and worshipping them, preaching the dharma and helping the people in affliction. Six important rules are to be kept in mind while initiating this yatra- Samyaktva Dharan, Ekashan, Bhumishayan, Brahmacharya, Padyatra, and Sachitt Tyag. 9) Malaropan: The highest devout is offered garland…

“Enlightenment” is a broad term that is entirely dependent on the context of the religion, and or philosophy, that used it. In general, Enlightenment is a state of peace derived through understanding. The actual particularities of this understanding is what is disputed amongst the different Eastern philosophies and religions, such as Theravada Buddhism, Zen Buddhism, and Hinduism. I will focus on Zen Enlightenment, but to do so, it’s necessary to explain Theravada Buddhism and Daoism, in order…

Buddhism is a nontheistic religion and philosophy. It is the 4th largest religion in the world, with around 375 million followers. Buddhism began when the Buddha shared his teachings and beliefs around 2,500 years ago. Since then, people all around the world have followed his teachings to achieve “enlightenment”, or “waking up”. Overall, Buddhism is a very complex religion consisting of many beliefs, practices, and traditions that have very well influenced many successful civilizations and…

Death is inevitable, it is a universal experience that everyone is guaranteed to experience. How we cope with death is different based on our religion, spiritual beliefs, as well as the influence of our culture. Some see death as fearful because it is the end of life in the material world. For others it can be a bit easier, some believe that it is not just the end of life, but the start to a new existence, the soul is reincarnated and the journey of a new life begins. Hinduism is a religion…

many people practice meditation for the mental health benefits, in this buddhist tradition the practice goes beyond basic techniques by taking refuge in what is called the three jewels: the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. The buddha is the perfect being that acts as a figure or reflection of reality. Dharma is the term used for the teachings of the buddha; the teachings of the Buddha is focused on the problem of suffering—it is inevitable, true, and can be alleviated. Sangha is the buddhist…

Eightfold Path is a process of removing suffering by having the right knowledge, right motives, right speech, right action, right occupation, right perseverance, right awareness, and the right absorption. At the Zen Buddha temple, they followed their dharma names, and don’t really focus on the Eightfold Path too much. They try to relate their practice of meditation towards the goal of removing suffering from their lives. Buddhism wants life to be a harmonious and they want to be able accept…

Star Wars episode IV A New Hope is a 20th century classic which embodies: the socio-cultural dynamic that the power balance throughout the galaxy constantly changes, a show of respect for elders on both the good and bad sides of the force, and a diverse cast of individuals all working together towards a similar goal. The film begins as a Rebel transport ship with Princess Leia finds itself flying into an area within which the imperial starship essentially forces the rebels to cede their…

The World’s Most Centered and Compassionate Spirituality Unveiled! The roots of the Buddhist tradition are humble, akin to many other religions and spiritualities; its fundamental ideals were established by a simple dissatisfied man with a burning desire for greater fulfillment. When the Hindu brahman Prince Siddhartha Gautama embarked on his journey for answers, it took him on the path of two extremes: the life experience he had gleaned from princehood and that of asceticism, the bare minimum…