Buddhism

Philosophy 210 Justin Hernandez March 23rd, 2011 World Religions Page 1 Think Paper #2 Religious assumptions from a dominant culture can be most definitely challenged by the theories and teachings of Buddhism. Assumptions of beliefs, human life, and roles of men and women provoke questions about the patterns of a Buddhist lifestyle. The characteristics of the many Buddhist religions also inspire interest in the origin of these cultures. Discovering such a foreign concept of religion can be quite perplexing to grasp from an opposed prejudice and preconception. Often times I have asked myself, “What do Buddhists believe in'” I have found to be true that the beliefs and practices of a Buddhist society are fascinating in spite of their complexity throughout the many different theories and branches of enlightenment in this civilization. The mystical orientations in the development of the ideas of ahimsa, karma and nirvana have become highly influential concepts among the Buddhist religions. The ritual of dhyana and acceptance of following the four noble truths and the eightfold path correctly through the teachings of karuna can lead a Buddhist to become a bodhisattva. This proves evidence of the sacramental orientation of this religion. The analysis of bodhi and samasara proved intriguing to my westerly preconceived notions. The views of human life within the Buddhist teachings, or Dharma are definitely imaginative and intellectual. In Buddhism, the purpose of life is to seek liberation from the Page 2 impermanence and suffering of reality: nirvana. The eightfold path together includes three main Buddhist goals: to face life objectively, to live kindly and to cultivate inner peace. The Buddhist concept of sacred transpires to be alluring. The trikaya doctrine expresses the nature of Buddha vividly through the Dharmakaya, the Nirmanakaya and the Sambhogakaya. Welcoming change is a mark of reality for the Buddhist religion. The concept referred to as “no permanent identity” and the reality of inescapably experiencing suffering are also marks of reality within the Buddhist culture. Time as a Buddhist idea is cyclical rather than liner as to be believed in western Christianity. These patterns of world view lead one to believe that Buddhist people are eminently imaginative. The idea of gender within Buddhism stimulates the question, “Are women treated equally within the Buddhist religion'” Buddhist doctrines on the enlightenment of women are contradictory. There is no one institutional authority that speaks for all Buddhism. The Tibetan Tantric Buddhists ideas developed in northeast India proved that women could also reach enlightenment. This type of Buddhism reveals influence from Hinduism-particularly its tendency to pair a male and a female deity and its love of multiple deities. Vajrayana believes the divine Buddha of nature expresses itself in a multitude of male and female deities. The aspects and traits of the vast Buddhist religions stimulate interest in the ancestry of the Buddhist culture. The central myth of how the “enlightened one” came to, be began in the fifth century B.C.E. with a man named Siddhartha Gautama. Siddhartha Gautama’s systematic interpretation of the universe was so profound through learned techniques of meditation and Page 3 understanding the path of moderation that his teachings are still around today. The community that now follows the Buddhist religion encompasses this entire globe. Buddhism has definitely challenged my western assumptions regarding religion. This religion maintains the three patterns of religion along with main key characteristics of religion, according to Michael Molloy. Narrow-mindedness has unmistakably hindered my views of the rich and beautiful religion that is Buddhism.