Persuasive Essay On Buddhism

Persuasive Essay On Buddhism
In the United States there are over four million buddhists, one thousand temples, study groups, or Buddhists associations (Monroe 108). This number
has come from just one man searching to find happiness and eventually enlightenment. Buddha's story is how buddhism became a religion all over the
world. It teaches a peaceful manner, reveals the key to happiness for the mind, and eliminates the desire in life. Not just the history of buddhism is
important, but how it has spread through the world and what it looks like today.
Buddhism is a religion that is all about finding enlightenment and nirvana. People want to find nirvana, a state of mind in which one is released
from fear and desire, so they no longer have to go through reincarnations (Monroe 110). Buddhism is a peaceful religion that doesn't believe in
violence. They believe that all live are sacred and deserve to enjoy life whether it be a human or an animal. Buddhists live by a moral code of
conduct with a proper control of emotions and thinking. There is a list of the Five Precepts for Right Living. The first one is do not kill, second do
not steal, third do not lie, fourth do not consume alcohol, and fifth do not indulge in sexual excesses outside of marriage (Monroe 111). All buddhist
search for enlightenment, however deny the existence of an afterlife. They do not believe there is a heaven nor a hell to punish their sins or reward
their good deeds (Monroe 108). This means there is no salvation in an afterlife but
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Buddhism, Buddhism And Buddhism
Buddhism is one of the largest religions in the world that started in India. Later spreading to China,Burma,Japan , Tibet and other parts of southeast
Asia. Buddhism is a religion that
Is concentrated on spiritualism than religious teachings. Established by the buddha, one must obtain their own spiritual awakening, or nirvana through
meditation. There are three main branches of Buddhism Theravada Buddhism , Mahayana Buddhism and Tantric Buddhism.
About 2,500 years ago, Prince Siddhartha Gautama renounced his empire in search of happiness or panacea for sorrow (dukkha) Gautama, after an
extensive research throughout his empire and meditating on the collected data under a banyan tree,discovered that aspiration or want (kama) was at the
root of sorrow (dukkha) laid down four noble truths to eliminate sorrow, and became the Buddha, the enlightened. Truths "Sanskriti, Mana. "The Four
Noble." (1998)." The four noble truths stated that suffering could not be escaped. Birth sickness, senility and death are all occasions of suffering.
Suffering can be either physical or psychological. One that is living an un– enlightened life is living in suffering. A major cause of suffering is
ignorance. Someone who is manifesting as ego grasping is living an un–enlightened life. There is one only way suffering can be ended and that 's
through the eightfold path." Oxtoby, Willard Gurdon, and Amir Hussain. World Religions: Western Traditions. Willard Gurdon Oxtoby & Amir

Buddhism : Buddhism And Buddhism
Zen Buddhism isn't exactly a "religion", but a way of living. It creates peace within the human mind that allows one to grow, develop and look at the
world more positively. Originating in China in 650 C.E., Zen Buddhism is a combination between Indian Mahayana Buddhism and Taoism. Mahayana
Buddhism promotes bodhisattva, which is practicing the way of life in the direction of Buddha. Taoism is a religion developed by Lao–tzu, a Taoist
philosopher, and focuses on obtaining long life and good fortune. It was brought to China by an Indian monk named Bodhidharma. Eventually, Zen
Buddhism began to spread to Japan in the twelfth century CE and Korea in the seventh century CE, and it eventually became very influential and
popular in western society around the mid–twentieth century. Buddhists that practice Zen Buddhism believe that Zen is the way that Buddha attained
enlightenment. Enlightenment for Buddhism is a spiritual state where there is no desire or suffering. This leads to the teachings of The Four Noble
Truths. The Truths are teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha gave in Sarnath after attaining enlightenment. The first Truth is the truth ofdukkha and that it
is inevitable in life. Dukkha is any kind of unhappiness or suffering and all human experience is temporary. They believe that suffering is a result of
extreme desire and attachment. The second Truth states that dukkha is caused by cravings and that unhappiness results in humans wanting to make
their biases and

Buddhism Thesis Statement
Bearden L. Brooke
Mrs. Forst
English 2
2 February 2017
All About Buddhism
Religion bashing seems to be very popular in today's world. Instead of acquiring the knowledge needed to argue their points they find it easier to
bash or put down what other people believe in. Why not gain information and the facts you need to argue your points? Bashing can not take place if
people are not properly informed! Have you ever bashed Buddhism? Thought that it was totally absurd. Do you even know what you don't like about the
religion? Buddhism isn't as complex as people like to make it out to be. Thesis statement: Buddhism can be summed up in three simple steps. The name
of the man who found buddhism was named Buddha.(www.aboutbuddhism.org)

Buddhism And Its Impact On Society Essay
In the universe there 's a galaxy, and in this galaxy there 's the solar system, and in this solar system there is a planet earth, and in this planet earth
lives 7 billion people. We are all the same but divided by key things; oceans and mountains, culture and society, but most important religions and
beliefs. Out of the hundreds of practices and beliefs that make part of planet earth one of the most interesting form of religious practice is Buddhism.
Buddhism is the practice of finding peace within ones self by developing inner peace, wisdom and kindness. This practice dates back 2,500 years,
and the founder is known as Buddha Shakyamuni. He was born a royal prince in a town called Lumbini; originally part of northern India but now
makes part of Nepal. When Buddha was 29 years old, he retired form his royal life and left to the woods to fallow the spiritual life of meditation. He
found a new way of life without materialistic needs by finding inner enlightenment. Buddha teaches how to get liberation from suffering form oneself,
and how to attain enlightenment for the sake of others; his main goal was to give people permanent liberation form suffering by helping them find
lasting peace or nirvana. The Buddhist culture believes that all of our problems are caused by a confused and negative state of mind, but all good
fortune and happiness comes form a positive state of mind. Buddhism is meant to teach the human mind how to overcome negative minds like
ignorance, anger, and

Essay on Buddhism in Japan
"Buddhism has the characteristics of what would be expected in a cosmic religion for the future; it transcends a personal God, avoids dogmas and
theology; it covers both the natural and spiritual, and it is based on a religious sense aspiring from the experience of all things, natural and spiritual, as
a meaningful unity." Albert Einstein (Buddhism)
Buddhism has affected many people. From the Buddha's first followers to my next door neighbor, people everywhere have followed the teachings of
Buddhism. Buddhism was started by a Prince; a prince who wanted more. Many different ways of showing appreciation to Buddha are present in
today's society as well as when Buddhism was first started. There are paintings, carvings, statues and...show more content...
One was an elderly man, another was a man suffering from illness, and finally he saw a dead body surrounded by mourners. Since he had never
seen anything like this before, he asked his charioteer what these things were. He responded to the Prince that these things were natural and
unavoidable, and happened to everyone. Once again Siddhartha asked his charioteer to take him out into the city; this time he was to see the last of
four images that would change his life forever. The last sight he saw was a wandering old holy man with no possessions. His head was completely
shaved and he was wearing a yellow robe. Having seen all these things, Buddha not only became aware of the pain and suffering of humankind, but
was also prompted to do something about it. He left his family in search of the answers to his questions (Buddhism).
Siddhathra traveled throughout the northeastern portion of India, seeking out holy men and teachers who taught him ancient Indian techniques of
meditation. Even though meditation was important to him, his main quest was to find the answer to the problem of suffering. He wanted to know
why they were suffering and how it could stop. So Siddhartha studied the teachings of Hinduism. He was very fascinated by the belief of
reincarnation or Samsara. (This was the belief of the soul, after death, would travel to a new body and be born again.) Depending on the person's
previous life, their soul could enter a body of a higher or lower state of

Argumentative Essay On Buddhism
Buddhism is considered the world's fourth largest religion, but is it really? Although a large bulk of society rules Buddhism as a religion, its basic
structure and teachings proves that it does not fit in the religious category. Many people argue that it is a religion, mainly because of the unique belief
in the afterlife and various realms of existence within Buddhism. However, there is no god in Buddhism, as anyone who follows the first Buddha's
teachings may become a Buddha themselves. It is the only "religion" that has no supreme spiritual being. It is instead a quest for enlightenment, for
supreme wisdom and intelligence, and to reach Nirvana as a result. It is a quest of self discovery that bypasses the concept of faith. Buddhism cannot
be a religion if it does not meet the criteria to be one.
Religion is defined as the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods. Buddhism doesn't have that.
Instead they have the Buddha, which is an enlightened being. The first Buddha was man named Siddhartha Gautama, the prince of the Sakya clan. Key
word; man. Gautama was not some super–immortal being that ruled in the sky requiring rituals and faith. He also had no requirements to even follow
his teachings, his whole philosophy was about bettering yourself, he did not want to be modeled or idealised. There is no doubt he was prophesied
to become either a holy man, or a great ruler, but by no means does that indicate he was a God of

Buddhism Reflection Paper
When I switched out of my other class and registered to take Buddhism I honestly did not know what to expect out of taking a world religion as a
class course. But, of course thinking like a young college student I thought to myself " Hey, why not a class like Buddhism just might be interesting to
you and you always been open minded to learning about different religions anyways". The whole idea of enlightenment being the primary goal of
Buddhism was very interesting to me in the beginning of class. I also agreed with the saying that " the "three poisons, "desire, hatred, and ignorance.
These are the state of mind that motivate the performance of the non virtuous deeds that in turn produce suffering"( (Lopez, The story of Buddhism, p
46) because it relates to what goes on in the world and the generation today. In class Mr. Hayes used to turn the light on to represent that when you are
following the path of the Buddha you are awakened and when the light was off you are in the dark or suffering.
"Buddhism as a religion to which ordinary people have turned over the centuries for the means to confront, control, or even escape the exigencies of
life"(Lopez 14). Buddhism is a world religion that has been studied and carried across the world for many centuries.When it comes to the scholarly
approach to studying Buddhism I learned that one must learn to be open minded , disciplined and patient because studying Buddhism can get a bit
tricky. You must be open minded because Buddhism

Zen Buddhism Essay
Zen Buddhism was first introduced to China by a South–
Indian man called Bodhidharma in around 520 CE. Bodhidharma, according to tradition, was a man so epic that he removed his own eyelids in order
to win a staring contest with a rock wall (from his severed eyelids sprang tealeaves, and thus, the connection between Zen Buddhism and tea–drinking).
The main teaching of Zen is that of zazen, or seated meditation, and that only through meditation and action, rather than cogitation, can one achieve
enlightenment (Elwood, 127–132).
There are two main sects of Zen Buddhism: Rinzai and Soto. Rinzai is the older of the two schools, and was introduced to Japan by Eisai, a Tendai
monk who traveled to China and was disappointed to see that...show more content...
If the new tenzo, or cook, makes a mistake...a senior monk will surely give him a tongue–lashing in front of everyone. The cook will be criticized if the
rice is too hard, the soup is too salty, the vegetables have been cut too small, the tea is lukewarm, the faucet is left dripping" (Hori, 13–14).
Hori goes on to say that if Zen Buddhist masters taught rationally, rather than intuitively, a new cook would be taken aside for a while in the weeks
preceding his appointment and shown how to cook properly. However, in not being taught the proper way to prepare meals, and through being forced
to constantly be mindful of his actions and the effects they will have on the reactions of his fellow monks, Zen is effectively being practiced.
Another thing that Rinzai and Soto have in common is their effort to keep monastic life simple to the point of being almost primitive. This includes the
use of wood fires, non–flushing toilets, no running water, no heating or air–conditioning, and often no electricity. (Hori, 14) By not allowing the use of
modern, time–saving innovations, Zen Buddhist monks are forced to spend much more time focused on simple, day–to–day activities, again improving
the general state of awareness that
Zen Buddhism seems to be all about.
Along the same lines, monasteries have strict, often harsh, rules dictating many mundane aspects of everyday life. As we saw in the movie,

Essay on Buddhism
People around the world speak of American influence in politics, business, and merchandise. The terms 'globalization' or 'global interdependence' are
recently being more understood by most when defining them with relation to corporations, environmental issues, and the modern economy. Can these
terms be used to describe the religious beliefs in Canada? The religious life of North American society does not find its roots here at home. We live in
a Christian domain. Its roots are 2000 years old and lie half way around the world. It is all around us in our homes, schools, workplace, media, and
quite inescapable in our daily lives. In the 21st Century however, basic Christian values are being influenced by...show more content...
Buddhists believe that all things should be looked after: the earth, plants, birds, insects and animals. This is close to the feeling among many people in
recent years that the human race should stop polluting the atmosphere and destroying the surface of the earth by cutting down forests.
"Buddhism has the characteristics of what would be expected in a cosmic religion for the future: it transcends a personal God, avoids dogmas
and theology; it covers both the natural & spiritual, and it is based on a religious sense aspiring from the experience of all things, natural and
spiritual, as a meaningful unity" (Albert Einstein)
Over 5 million Americans, and over 160,000 Canadians (1991 Census) consider themselves Buddhist. I found over 75 Buddhist organizations in Alberta
alone!
The face of Buddhism in America can be seen everywhere. From corporations taking advantage of the spread of the religion and selling Buddha
figurines in every shopping mall to Hollywood's blockbusters incorporating the ideas. The movie, The Matrix, has a Buddhist underlying with regard
to the themes of choice, and awakening. The Butterfly Effect is completely based on the idea that the entire universe is interconnected over time, a
principle of Buddha's teachings. Hollywood celebrities such as Brad Pitt (Seven Years in Tibet), Richard Gere (a proclaimed Buddhist), and Tom Cruise

Essay on World Religion: Buddhism
Buddhism is one of the most popular religions in the world, it originates in Nepal, where the "enlightened one" Saddartha Gotama was born. The word
Buddhism originates from the word "Buddhi" meaning to awaken. Buddhism is a nontheistic religion, meaning that they do not have any gods in their
faith. Buddha is seen as one of the enlightened ones, rather than a God. One interesting fact about Buddhism, Saddartha Gotama acknowledges Jesus
Christ as a very good man and a prophet, however does not acknowledge him as the Messiah. Saddartha Gotama was born into a very wealthy family,
and he always wanted to find more purpose in life than money and materialistic things. He began his faith journey at a young age, and by age 35 he
became...show more content...
His teachings are based on an 8 step process, with emphasis on self–discipline, self–restraint, self–sacrifice, and abstaining from all kinds of evils,
which is picture perfect for this generation.
One of the most interesting parts of Buddhism to me is the architecture and art behind it. "The perfect proportions of the Buddha's body corresponds to
the design of religious monuments. Its architecture developed from the pre–Buddhist Indian grave–mound. Under these mounds the saintly ascetic
were buried; their bodies were seated on the ground and covered with earth. These dome–shaped graves, or tumuli, of the saints were regarded as holy
places. And were destinations for pilgrimage for the devotional and places of practice for meditators." Says the Buddha Dharma Education Association.
(http://www.buddhanet.net/stupa.htm) The amazing thing to me is that they can base their architecture solely on the makeup of a human being. I
mean you don't exactly see a bunch of Catholic architecture based off the makeup of Jesus. Most of it is symbolistic, whereas Buddhism strongly lacks
symbolism.
Since doing the research on Buddhism, I have found some of the teachings of Buddhism have been very helpful to me in my life. I have begun doing
yoga (Yes believe it Mrs. Schneiderman, I actually do yoga.) Some of his teachings half helped me find my inner peace, especially during some hectic
classes or very stressful homework

What Is Buddhism? Essay
What is Buddhism?
Buddhism is a path of teaching and practice. Buddhist practices such as meditation are means of changing oneself in order to develop the qualities of
awareness, kindness, and wisdom. The experience developed within the Buddhist tradition over thousands of years has created an incomparable
resource for all those who wish to follow the path of spiritual development. Ultimately, the
Buddhist path culminates in Enlightenment or Buddhahood.
Who was the Buddha?
The word Buddha is a title not a name. It means 'one who is awake' in the sense of having 'woken up to reality'. The title was first given to a man
called Siddharta Guatemala, who lived about 2,500 years...show more content...
How do you become a Buddhist?
To become a Buddhist in the full sense means committing oneself to the central ideas of Buddhism. The Buddhist path is open to all equally: men and
women, young and old, people of all nationalities, races and backgrounds.
Rebirth
Rebirth in the Six Realms
Buddhism teaches that birth, death and rebirth are part of the continuing process of change. The is similar to the continuous process of growth, decay,
and replacement of cells in ones' body. According to medical experts, after every seven years, all the cells in one's body are replaced by new ones.
At the moment of death, and the body can no longer survive, the mind is separated from the body. At that time, the craving for lives causes one to seek
a new existence, and the karma done previously determine the place of one's rebirth. There are six realms which one may be reborn after death. They
are the realms of gods, the demigods, human beings, animals, hungry ghosts, and the hells. In general, wholesome actions like good conduct, charity, a
and mental development, are the cause of rebirth in the happy realms of gods, demigods, and human beings. On the other hand, unwholesome actions

like immoral conduct, miserliness and cruelty cause

Buddhism: An Informative Essay About Buddhism
There are so many different religions in the world, and its keep expanding every day. Each religion as it own characteristic also gives its followers
instruction to believe what is right and what is wrong in their daily. Religion is the self–consciousness and self–perception of each person who neither
finds themselves nor has lost themselves. With the purpose of this assignment, I decided to do the research about Buddhism. The reason I picked
Buddhism is it had a very rich historical background, as I known Buddhism is not a system of faith and worship, nor does it require blind faith, but
must rely on knowledge of the truth. Buddhism is not just kept in scriptures, nor is it a topic for people to study from the literary and historical point

Buddhism Reflection Paper
Reflection Paper 1: Beliefs of Buddhism
In this paper, I have decided to reflect on the beliefs of Buddhism, specifically on one of the oldest surviving branch of Buddhism, which is
Theravada. In this reflection paper, I will be discussing how I became a Buddhist, my basic knowledge of Buddhism, the etiquette of being in a temple,
what my parents have taught me from a young age. Additionally, I will express my own opinions, views and personal experience specifically on
Karma and the 5 Precepts.
Originally, I was born in Thailand and growing up in Cambodia for the first five years of my life their, therefore it is clear that I would naturally
follow the beliefs of Theravada Buddhism. Furthermore, I also come from a family of...show more content...
From my life experiences, I would say it depends on the situation you find yourself in. I personally find it hard to stick to them because these days it
is east to get influenced by the environment you're in. My aims in life aren't based on these rules; hence I don't really find myself sticking to them.
Even though I do break these rules, I still believe I am a good Buddhist.
For Monks and Nun's on the other hand, it is necessary for them to follow the last five rules. In Buddhism, I was taught that they used to be
common people but the fact that they have sacrificed everything to become monks they should take the rules very seriously and follow a very
strict life. From some of the Monks I've seen in Cambodia, I can tell it is very difficult for them to stick to these rules too For me, I get distracted
so easily and it is very easy for me to get influenced by modern technology. Today, I would see some Monks with smartphones, using them as iPods;
some would have access to Facebook etc. some would even receive money privately or get involved in violence. I find this so disappointing, as it
makes me doubt in everything I have believed but also I view monks so differently after seeing and hearing stories about how some Monks have been
behaving.
To conclude, it is clear that my beliefs in Theravada Buddhism mainly comes from the influence

Essay on Hinduism and Buddhism
Throughout the world, different nations have different beliefs or religion. Some religions evolve from others, and others are combination of other
religions. Religion is a way of life, a lifestyle; it should dictate how you live your life. For instance, in India, Buddhism evolved from Hinduism, a
religion were people believe in 300, 000 gods. Even though, Hinduism and Buddhism have different similarities such as believes in god, soul, and
rituals, which in some ways connected to each other, both religions believe of what happens after life.
Although Buddhism evolved from Hinduism it differs from Hinduism in god beliefs. According to Buddhists there is no God, but they reverence the
Buddha and his teachings as though he were one....show more content...
Vishnu, to his worshipers, is all–powerful and supreme. He is believed to be to god from whose navel a lotus sprang giving birth to Brahma, the
creator. Vishnu created the universe by separating the heavens and the earth and has rescued it on a number of occasions. As Hopfe and Woodward
state "Vishnu is known as a god of love, benevolence, and forgiveness (Hinduism 94)." " In some incarnations, he has come as a man." (94). The third
popular god is Brahma, the creator of the world.
Since Buddhism and Hinduism have different believes they also have different holy days. Moreover, because Hindus worship variety of gods they
have a variety of festivals. The three main festivals of Hinduism are: Holi, Divali, and Dasehra. Holi is the most popular festival. This holy day is
celebrated each year during February–March to welcome spring. "Holi is dedicated to god Krishna and it was once a fertility ceremony (104)."
Throughout the days of Holi, many of the casts and taboo restrictions are set aside and pleasure is emphasized. The second ceremony Divali,
celebrated in November, is a festival to welcome a new year. Finally the third festival, the Dasehra, celebrated up to nine days in October, in honor of
Durga, a consort of Shiva. On the other hand Buddhism is divided in many ways according to philosophy and geography. The major festivals that are
celebrated by most Buddhists are New Year, Buddha's birthday, the festival of souls, and robe offering. In

Research Paper On Buddhism
Studies of Religion 1 Unit– Buddhism Essay Draft
Buddhist adherents are urged to live good lives according to the Dharma in order to reach Nirvana. This means that their lives are impacted from birth
to follow these teachings which is then further encouraged by their spiritual leader Tenzin Gyatso, his Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. With Tenzin
Gyatso's influence as the significant person of Buddhism and quotes from Buddhaghosa and Dogen, this essay will analyse the impact that the Buddhist
teachings of worship (Puja) and bioethics have on individuals and the community of the faith. "If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If
you want to be happy, practice compassion." the Dalai Lama.
Puja is the worship of the Buddhist faith....show more content...
Buddhist bioethics is not complicated. Buddhist adherents are encouraged to make right decisions in accordance with the second and fourth step, Right
Intention and Right Action, of the Eightfold Path, the path to Enlightenment. Buddhist adherents are told and taught through the Dharma and the Dalai
Lama that all life is sacred, not matter the circumstance. In a case of euthanasia, a person of the Buddhist faith is encouraged to abstain from killing
in accordance to the first of the Five Precepts. However, the word abstain does not necessarily mean to never consider altogether. In some rare
circumstances an attempt to end one's mortal suffering with a clear mind can be tolerated leaving the Karmic forces of Buddhism to take over the
reincarnation process. Due to this Buddhist bioethics are situational. Buddhists also see suicide as euthanasia and has been tolerated by the Buddha in
only two cases after the victims were of clear mind. The Dalai Lama has also spoken on the topic of euthanasia. He claims that in extreme
circumstances euthanasia may be tolerated but he also has said "I think it's better to avoid it". The quote from Buddhaghosa says that the Eightfold
Path is the path to Nirvana, and the second and fourth steps of the Eightfold Path is Right Intention and Right Action. If in extreme circumstances
euthanasia has been tolerated, however a clear mind must be needed to have

Essay on Buddhism
Buddhism Many people interpret Buddha as a big fat guy, that will give you luck if you rub his belly. This may be true, but Buddhism is much bigger
than that. Buddhism began in Himalaya region and has been around since the first century. In Buddhism, the nature of God is a man named
Shakyamuni Buddha. In this paper, we are going to look a little more into Buddhism. We will review responses from an actual Buddhism worshipper.
We will also compare Buddhism to other religions. Although the Buddha was apparently an historical figure, what we know about him is sketchy. His
prolific teachings were probably not collected in written form until at least four hundred years after his death. One example of a sacred biography is
Buddhacarita, by...show more content...
I had a very open mind, so when I tried to follow the Catholic religion, I didn't see any results that fulfilled my spiritual life. Therefore, when I started
learning about Buddhism and started to practice it, I seen that it gave me better results and I felt better in my spiritual life.
Q: How long have you followed this religion?
A: "I have followed this religion for six years.
Q: How has this religion affected you in the modern day lifestyle?
A: This religion affects me in a very good way. People believe that a religion gives you rules to live by; however, Buddhism is not like that. In
Buddhism, sin and guilty feelings for doing bad things does not exist. Therefore, your lifestyle doesn't change if you don't want it to change, but it
makes you more conscious about what you are doing. In my personal life, I feel that I am the same whether I do something or not, it's not because of
the religion, not because somebody is going to punish me, but because I really want to do it.
Q: What conflicts do you face from people that do not follow this religion?
A: I have found no conflicts because as I said before, I was not convinced about the Catholic religion so it was very easy for me to change religions.
Nobody gave me problems about changing religions because I was 29 years old; therefore I was mature enough to make my own decisions. I had no
conflicts with society or anyone else.
Q: What is God for you?
A: Buddhist believes in

Essay on Buddhism
Buddhism
In reading this account on Buddhism, the goal is, for you (the reader) to understand a fascinating belief system, that has been around since before
Christ ever set foot on this earth. This will provide a connection to the minds and hearts of the people who live and die in this sacred world, so that an
understanding may be arroused and ultimatly give an acceptance as well as a clear path to minister to these people. The most important aspect of
reaching out to people of other cults or religions could possibly be an understanding and common ground with your neighbor. Therefore, knowing
Buddhism and learning about it will help give you a stepping stone in you mission on spreading the gospel of...show more content...
He did these things for six or seven years in order, so he believed, to attain truth. One day while on his pilgrimage of enlightenment he came to the
realization that his life as an ascetic was of no greater value than that of his previous existence as a prince. His self–torturing acts were then viewed by
him as vain and fruitless, just as a life with worldly pleasures would be described as. Once he discovered the importance of the "middle way", (the
way to truth, which averts both worldly pleasures and extreme austerities) he abandoned his life of extreme austerities and moved on in his search for
truth. (Mead 30)
Later on in his life, it is not certain exactly when, Gautama sat under a particular fig tree in Gaya, which now is christened the Bodhi–tree. Gautama sat
at the foot of that tree and meditated, he meditated until he became enlightened. At the point of enlightenment he discovered the "Four Noble Truths",
which became the focal point of his teachings, and of his Buddhist philosophy. This marked perhaps the most important point in his spiritual journey,
where he became the Buddha or "the Enlightened One".
With his newly found title as the Buddha he decided to set out and share the enlightenment he experienced and the "Four Noble Truths" to all who
would be willing to receive

Is Buddhism A Philosophy Essay
Is Buddhism a Religion or a Philosophy?
There has always a great debate surrounding the borders and guidelines of the division between religion and spiritual philosophies. Essentially,
religion is a set of beliefs and practices that serve as to get one closer to a god or divine power, and to consolidate their relationship. However, a
philosophy, in the scope of spirituality and faiths, could be defined as the set of beliefs and thoughts that works to achieve the goal of liberation of the
mind and the accomplishment of knowledge and wisdom. Buddhism is a philosophy of spirituality, ethics, and self–discipline, rather than a traditional
religion. Even though it has some aspects of the Seven Dimensions of Religion, which could be viewed as a...show more content...
American scholar of religion, Stephen Prothero, mentions that "the earliest forms of Buddhism did not speak of God or stress the supernatural. They
say the Buddha as a human being." (God is Not One). Prothero explains that there is a lack in deities in Buddhism, and that view Buddha, the
exemplar and the greatest guru of Buddhism, as a mere human who has achieved enlightenment and release through Buddhist practices. This serves
as to show a further extent to how Buddhism is not considered a religion, as it is short on one of the most essential aspects of a traditional religion:
believing in a god or a divine power. Even though the Buddha is seen by many as god–like in qualities, he is not established as supernatural, divine
being to believed in. Overall, the focus of Buddhism lies in the teachings of the gurus who have reached enlightenment and liberation, rather than the
doctrines related to a specific

Persuasive Essay On Buddhism

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Persuasive Essay On Buddhism