The Two Paths

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 its way to Japan until 552 BCE. It is considered to be a path to spiritual discovery. It was founded by a man named Siddhartha Gautama, who believed that within the human condition there was disease, decay, and death. Gautama felt that within the human…

The Second Eightfold Path is Right Intention. It relates to Siddhartha because he maintains his values, but pursues a more worldly life. He develops a compassion for Kamala and he shifts into the business world for her. Nonetheless, he does not fret and become worried if he…

The Buddha is a symbol that most of the western world is familiar with in some way or another. The overweight man smiling and sitting crisscross waiting to grant you luck when you rub his belly. Though this is not Buddhism, not its entirety, this is a small form of Buddhism syncretism at work. Some Buddhist practiced the worship of Bodhisattva Budai in hopes of relaxation and correct learnedness of worldly pleasures. So the laughing Buddha is a small example of how Buddhism’s great influence has…

feelings of millions of Democrats, who, after volunteering countless hours for Hillary Clinton and other Democrats, were left in complete despair when they saw the results of the 2016 Election: Republicans controlled both Houses of Congress, nearly two thirds of State Legislatures and Governors, and a man who they felt to be hateful, abusive, and grossly unqualified was elected President of the United States. Following these electoral failures and the feelings of despair…

Then one day he overhears a music teacher instructing his student not to pull the strings of his instrument too tight or leave them too loose. Siddhartha gives up asceticism, realizing that the path to enlightenment lies on the middle course. As he grows in his journey, he learns profound truths about the nature of life, consciousness, and reality. Lama Norbu tells the three children the final segment of the drama of Siddhartha and they magically…

Cambodia has a New Year's day and the United States has one as well. In spite of the fact that they celebrate New Years on two completely different dates, the way that they practice it is almost exactly the same. In both cultures, individuals always reunite with relatives, dress pleasantly and eat amazing food together. Also, it is a tradition for them to create their own kind…

realities that we choose to face on a daily basis. Humans feel as though they can avoid the harshness of reality by choosing to “focus” on the inconsequential thoughts that will eventually bring them back to suffering. The Buddha taught the Eightfold Path to liberate people form their false sense of eternal suffering and guide us toward a meaningful existence. The most crucial step towards enlightenment is explained by right mindfulness; remember to come back to the present moment. While we…

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…

giving rise to newer schools. Madhyamaka Buddhism has two main wings – Madhyamaka and Yogacara. The thesis of this article is two compare and contrast between these two on the basis of their doctrines on Nirvana. A lot has been written on the distinction between Madhyamaka and Yogacara. In Richard King’s article on Yogacara’s relationship with Madhyamaka School, he quotes D.T. Suzuki. The quote perfectly sums up the routine sentiment toward the two Schools. “Most Buddhist scholars are often too…

name was Siddhartha. There were two possible outcomes for his life. He could inherit the throne and follow in his father’s footsteps to become a king or if he was ever exposed to the reality of suffering of the world he would become a great spiritual leader. His father wanted him to follow in his footsteps and become a king, so he protected Buddha from seeing the suffering of life and raised him in a secluded community. He would send out servants ahead of Buddha's path to remove any signs of…