Theravada

Two and a half thousand years ago Siddhartha Gautama, who would become the Buddha, set out on a journey to find enlightenment. Siddhartha Gautama was born into a noble family and from an early age showed signs of being special. His father was told a prophecy that his son would either become a great ruler or a great philosopher or world changer. As a young boy Siddhartha saw a man plowing a field and saw what back breaking work the farmer did to sow seeds. This had a very profound effect on…

Silence is an important aspect of the Hindu tradition. Silence is a preparation, a way of knowing oneself, and also of knowing the world, as is revealed in the tapashyaa(s) (meditation) of the muni(s) (sages). In fact, the word ‘muni’ has its origin in the Sanskrit word ‘mauna’, meaning silence, the maintenance of which is believed to inculcate power and knowledge, as opposed to speech that saps all energy. Silence, as a spiritual entity, is common both in the Buddhist philosophy and in the…

1) After watching the movie on our blackboard, it depicted that the approximate year of the Buddhas birth was sometime between the 6th and 5th century B.C. He was born in what is now called southern Nepal. Though this information about the Buddha is based on oral accounts that were written down a few centuries after his death. This means that it might not be fully accurate. Prior to adulthood, one key formative experiences of his life was being born as a prince named Siddhartha Gautama, who was…

Would we be truly happy if we decided to always take risks? How is Buddhism related in terms of interpersonal communications? In Pema Chodron’s book, Taking the Leap: Freeing Ourselves from Old Habits and Fears, argue that, being the most peaceful and spiritual person you can be can make one truly happy. Pema Chodron’s information about shenpa, compared with the teachings of interpersonal communications, how she proves that her argument is true versus the teachings of interpersonal…

Karma is a term that figures the great deeds and terrible deeds of a man's over a wide span of time activities which will decide their destiny in future. In Hinduism Karma is principally centered around one's dedication and religious activities while in Buddhism any activity will decide karma be it; physical, mental or verbal. Hinduism trust that divine beings can fix karma or the karma is controlled by god's eagerness to rebuff a man or not but rather in Buddhism karma will exist until the…

Part three: Buddhism and the film Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter…and Spring. Introduction Buddhism is a religion to around three hundred million people across the globe. The term originates from the word ‘budhi, ' which means ‘to awaken. ' The doctrine was initiated about 2,500 years ago when Siddhartha Gotama (Buddha) was himself enlightened at the age of 35. Besides being a mythology, the approach is based on a philosophical take which involves seeing and testing natural laws, with a basis…

Name: Vrinda Datta Roll no : 60065 College: Hindu Professor: Dr Anil Aneja. M.A English fourth semester. The Exodus of Kashmiri Pandits 1) According to Hindu mythology, the valley of Kashmir is said to have been named after the ancient sage rishi Kashyapa. Kashmiri Pandits are said to be the original inhabitants of the valley. The term Kashmiri Pandits refer to the Hindu Brahmins who have a five thousand year old ancestry and culture . There roots can be…

It is a continuous cycle, always coming back to the same starting point. Like a circle, there is no beginning, and there is no end. In Buddhism, this concept of a circle is very important for the principle of rebirth. If one does not live a fulfilling life, one cannot leave the cycle and reach nirvana. Being reborn is like hitting a reset button to get a second chance. One should live constantly working to escape this cycle and reach salvation. Above all, I believe Genji’s story is about second…

The quest for Oneness has attracted many a seeker on the path of contemplation through the practice of silence. J Krishnamurti often said: "The mind that enters itself goes on a long pilgrimage from which there is no return." Silence was the defining characteristic of both Mahavira and Buddha's search for meaning — one observed silence for 12 years on his chosen path and the other was exemplified as the silent sage, Sakyamuni, "the silent one of the Sakya tribe". Apart from its religious import…

The history of Korean martial arts originated in the prehistoric era. Primitive weapons made of wood and stone were used for hunting and fighting. Various forms of unique martial arts has since been d by Koreans in order to protect themselves and their territory from foreign invasions. The three main groups of martial arts are: Tribal martial arts (SahDoh MuSool), which was popular among ancient tribes, city states, and smaller kingdoms that formed the Korean Peninsula and part of what is now…