Difference between revisions of "Buddhism"
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| − | '''Buddhism''' is a religion native to the South Asian subcontinent. It arose out of traditional [[Hindu]] beliefs, and spread throughout South and East Asia. | + | '''Buddhism''' is a religion native to the South Asian subcontinent. It arose out of traditional [[Hindu]] beliefs, and spread throughout South and East [[Asia]]. |
| − | Buddhism may be considered to be an "[[atheism|atheistic]]/[[Agnosticism|agnostic]] religion." This is mostly because unlike the Abrahamic religions, | + | Buddhism may be considered to be an "[[atheism|atheistic]]/[[Agnosticism|agnostic]] religion." This is mostly because unlike the Abrahamic religions, Buddhists believe that the world isn't ruled by a single god and don't always view Buddha as a religious deity like [[God]] (although some Buddhists do not fully deny the existence of God).<ref>http://www.religionfacts.com/buddhism/beliefs/atheism.htm</ref> |
| + | ==Buddhist philosophy== | ||
There are generally two chapters to being a Buddhist. There is the personal aspect, in which one aims to achieve enlightenment or improve themselves generally, and there is religion aspect, in which one often practices chanting ceremonies and give offerings to various deities on a regular basis. The Buddhist community can be called the [[Sangha]]. | There are generally two chapters to being a Buddhist. There is the personal aspect, in which one aims to achieve enlightenment or improve themselves generally, and there is religion aspect, in which one often practices chanting ceremonies and give offerings to various deities on a regular basis. The Buddhist community can be called the [[Sangha]]. | ||
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In reality, the Buddha did more than sit around-- he founded what amounted to a university, and ran it until his death at a ripe old age. Not listening and then asking silly questions after not listening could get a student called "stupid" by the Buddha himself. Two and a half thousand years later, there is an enormous body of oral tradition and written text about the teachings, but they may be neatly summarized with remarkably few notions: | In reality, the Buddha did more than sit around-- he founded what amounted to a university, and ran it until his death at a ripe old age. Not listening and then asking silly questions after not listening could get a student called "stupid" by the Buddha himself. Two and a half thousand years later, there is an enormous body of oral tradition and written text about the teachings, but they may be neatly summarized with remarkably few notions: | ||
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* Contain your sexual drive; do not screw around inappropriately. | * Contain your sexual drive; do not screw around inappropriately. | ||
* Contaminating your body with intoxicants is not useful, and to be avoided. | * Contaminating your body with intoxicants is not useful, and to be avoided. | ||
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| + | ==Buddhism in the East== | ||
| + | Buddhism, like other religions enjoyed a schism and now has three main factions, Mahayana, Theravada, and Vajrayana. (Philosophically, Vajrayana is an sub-sect of Mahayana, but is different enough to be considered its own branch.) In Theravada Buddhism, when one attains enlightenment, one transcends to nirvana. (The state of non-being, not the grunge band) Theravada is considered the oldest branch, and is often called Hinayana by other types of Buddhists. (Hinayana means "lesser vehicle.") However, in Mahayana, an enlightened being is expected to return to earth as a bodhisattva, bringing others to enlightenment as well, instead of going on to nirvana. | ||
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| + | [[Tibet]]an Buddhism is almost its own branch, and takes ideas from all three. Traditionally, in Tibetan Buddhism, someone who reached enlightenment was promptly made head of state of an obscure mountainous country, then hunted down by the Chinese government, while writing a series of bestselling meditation handbooks. (It seems that the current head of Tibetan Buddhism has made some statements to the effect that he may not be the literal reincarnation of previous Lamas.) | ||
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| + | ==Buddhism in the West== | ||
| + | Buddhism has successfully marketed itself to [[hippie]]s in the Western world as a very peaceful religion, devoted to internal contemplation and personal enlightenment. The standard versions of Buddhism promoted in the West leave out much of the rich and complicated mythology of gods and supernatural powers, as well as traditional Buddhist [[sexism]] (such as the belief that in order to become enlightened, a woman must first [[reincarnation|reincarnate]] as a man) and strict religious hierarchies. In their place is a pleasant (to Western ears) new myth about a nice guy who sat around thinking for a while, and decided the way to be happy was achievable if we'd all be less selfish. | ||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
*[[Celibacy in Buddhism]] | *[[Celibacy in Buddhism]] | ||
*[[Zen]] | *[[Zen]] | ||
| + | *[[Karma]] | ||
==Footnotes== | ==Footnotes== | ||
Revision as of 16:54, 6 December 2009
Buddhism is a religion native to the South Asian subcontinent. It arose out of traditional Hindu beliefs, and spread throughout South and East Asia.
Buddhism may be considered to be an "atheistic/agnostic religion." This is mostly because unlike the Abrahamic religions, Buddhists believe that the world isn't ruled by a single god and don't always view Buddha as a religious deity like God (although some Buddhists do not fully deny the existence of God).[1]
Buddhist philosophy
There are generally two chapters to being a Buddhist. There is the personal aspect, in which one aims to achieve enlightenment or improve themselves generally, and there is religion aspect, in which one often practices chanting ceremonies and give offerings to various deities on a regular basis. The Buddhist community can be called the Sangha.
In reality, the Buddha did more than sit around-- he founded what amounted to a university, and ran it until his death at a ripe old age. Not listening and then asking silly questions after not listening could get a student called "stupid" by the Buddha himself. Two and a half thousand years later, there is an enormous body of oral tradition and written text about the teachings, but they may be neatly summarized with remarkably few notions:
- no-self
- dependent co-origination
and perhaps one or two others.
Precepts
While there are hundreds of precepts which apply to monastic practitioners, for everyday use the list may be reduced to four:
- Preserve life; do not kill.
- Use what you have; do not take what is not given.
- Contain your sexual drive; do not screw around inappropriately.
- Contaminating your body with intoxicants is not useful, and to be avoided.
Buddhism in the East
Buddhism, like other religions enjoyed a schism and now has three main factions, Mahayana, Theravada, and Vajrayana. (Philosophically, Vajrayana is an sub-sect of Mahayana, but is different enough to be considered its own branch.) In Theravada Buddhism, when one attains enlightenment, one transcends to nirvana. (The state of non-being, not the grunge band) Theravada is considered the oldest branch, and is often called Hinayana by other types of Buddhists. (Hinayana means "lesser vehicle.") However, in Mahayana, an enlightened being is expected to return to earth as a bodhisattva, bringing others to enlightenment as well, instead of going on to nirvana.
Tibetan Buddhism is almost its own branch, and takes ideas from all three. Traditionally, in Tibetan Buddhism, someone who reached enlightenment was promptly made head of state of an obscure mountainous country, then hunted down by the Chinese government, while writing a series of bestselling meditation handbooks. (It seems that the current head of Tibetan Buddhism has made some statements to the effect that he may not be the literal reincarnation of previous Lamas.)
Buddhism in the West
Buddhism has successfully marketed itself to hippies in the Western world as a very peaceful religion, devoted to internal contemplation and personal enlightenment. The standard versions of Buddhism promoted in the West leave out much of the rich and complicated mythology of gods and supernatural powers, as well as traditional Buddhist sexism (such as the belief that in order to become enlightened, a woman must first reincarnate as a man) and strict religious hierarchies. In their place is a pleasant (to Western ears) new myth about a nice guy who sat around thinking for a while, and decided the way to be happy was achievable if we'd all be less selfish.