Mahayana

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 that the Mindfulness movement in the West is just another…

Although modern society could be considered secular to a certain extent, there was a time when religion and its ideologies played a vital role in daily life. This is especially true for life in Japan following the introduction of what is now known as ‘Buddhism’. Once the teachings of Buddha were infused into Japanese society, it effected everything from art, to values, and culture within the society. The inception of Buddhism came into practice at approximately 500 BCE in India, but did not make…

External Invasions: Cholas and Mongols – tunnels, first Indian dynasty to conquer SE Asia, Cholas coming to area with an idea that they might be able to control the area, Phlembang (capital) overthrows the Cholas and kicks them out, Cholas helped to break down the Srivajayan empire, Mongols made it to Nanchao, 1292 - Mongols fleet from China to Java and attacked Java, Mongols never conquered SE Asia SRIVAJAYA – 9th century – MARITIME STATE - No major agriculture area - Cholas came out in the…

Shinto The Shinto religion is thought to have started at 500BCE or even earlier. The word ‘Shinto’ means, ‘The way of the Gods’. During the 8th century CE, both Shinto and Buddhism became the official religions of Japan. The ‘Buddha’ for the Shinto religion was the ‘Kami’. Kami were ‘Divine spirits that dwell within nature’. People believed that Kami could be found in many different forms, anything unusual or beautiful in nature or in exceptional people. They believed Izanagi-no-mikoto and…

Was the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki necessary ? Hiroshima and Nagasaki were bombed by the United States of America because they wanted to end WWII. The United States of America had a project that was named Manhattan Project.The Manhattan Project was about the bombs that Hiroshima and Nagasaki.The bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki helped the outcome of the WWII. There are many reasons to why the United States of America bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Some of those reasons are…

worship any gods or deities and strive to develop a deep insight into the true nature of life. There are approximately 376 million Buddhists around the world. While there are various other sects, the two main Buddhist sects are Theravada Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism. Buddhism is 2500 years old and arose as a result of Siddhartha Gautama's search for Enlightenment, which occurred around the sixth century B.C. As a result of discovering the path to enlightenment, Siddhartha became known as the…

Asia. Similar instances of cruelty would occur in nearby Cambodia with the emergence of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rogue’s rise to power a few years later. Arguably the most shocking image of the Vietnam War though would be the protest of the burning Mahayana Buddhist monk in the streets of South Vietnam in 1963. The ritualized public burning by Thích Quảng Đức alarmed the American public that individual acts of violence threatened everyone. It also demonstrated the “shock” and lopsided cultural…

The main core that holds society is the order. The term social order refers to a particular system of linked social structures, institutions, relations, values, customs and practices which maintain certain important patterns of behaving and relating. Social order is a stable state of society where the social order is accepted and maintained by its members. “Social order is largely reproduced over time through the cycle of socialization” (Martin, 93). Martin questions socialization and…

During Buddhism's 2,500 year history, several thriving sects have emerged, each with a unique take on the teachings of Buddha and daily practice. Zen Buddhism-that grew out of Mahayana and has gained increasing popularity in the West. Zen Buddhism treats zazen meditation and daily practice as essential for attaining Enlightenment and deemphasizes the rigorous study of scripture. On February 24th, I had a chance to go to the Clouds In Water Zen Center on 445, 445 Farrington St, St Paul, MN 55103.…

A dynamic living religion is a religion that is ever changing and alive in nature. The characteristics of a religion are beliefs and believers, rituals and ceremonies, sacred texts and ethics. Christianity is a transcendent religion. This means ‘’beyond or above the range of normal or physical human experience’’.The supernatural dimensions is a belief in the existence of beings or powers beyond the realm of the natural world. God is the unknown, yet God continually seeks to reveal himself to…