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Buddhism Introduction
Buddhism is a religion. The founder of this religion was Siddhartha Gautama generally known as
Buddha. History of Buddhism base on Buddha’s spiritual journey to enlightenment and of the
teaching and way of living they developed from it. It was founded in 2500 year ago in India. It has
currently 470 million followers worldwide. In which 150,000 are Britain. Historically in east and
Southeast Asia this religion was most prominent. After some time this religion was influence by
other religions like Hinduism Islam and also influence by the behavior of Buddhist sanghas.
Belief of Buddha
The four noble truth
Buddhism’s famed four truths are called noble because they liberate us from suffering. They are
the Buddha’s basic teaching, encapsulating the entire Buddhist path.
Law of karma
Law of karma in which explain our past action affect us present and effect in future. Affection may
positively and negatively. If we had done good thing in our past affection positively and of we had
done bad things in our past affection negatively.
Cycle of rebirth
Karma plays out in Buddhism cycle of rebirth. There are six separate categories in which any
living beings can reborn three fortunate realms and three unfortunate realms. Those who have done
positive action and good things in the past reborn in fortunate realms and those who have done
negative action or bad things in the past they reborn in unfortunate realms. In fortunate realms
there are further three categories.
✣ Realm of men
✣ Realm of gods
✣ Realm of demigods
Realm of men considered the highest realm in rebirth cycle. In unfortunate there are further three
categories.
✣ Realms of animals
✣ Realm of ghosts
✣ Realms of hell
Custom in Buddhism
The Buddhist tradition has developed many different customs and practices in different parts of
the world. This may take the form of meditating on the qualities of Buddha, and honoring the
Buddha or Buddha-figure. A person could honor the Buddha by making offerings to relics or
images of the Buddha. There are three major customs in Buddhism
Sacred mandala
The mandala represents an imaginary palace that is contemplated during meditation. Each object
in the palace has significance, representing an aspect of wisdom or reminding the meditator of a
guiding principle. The mandala's purpose is to help transform ordinary minds into enlightened ones
and to assist with healing.
Meditation
Meditation involves the body and the mind. For Buddhists this is particularly important as they
want to avoid what they call 'duality' and so their way of meditating must involve the body and the
mind as a single entity. In the most general definition, meditation is a way of taking control of the
mind so that it becomes peaceful and focused, and the meditator becomes more aware.
Buddhist worship
Buddhists can worship both at home or at a temple. It is not considered essential to go to a temple
to worship with others. In home they have separate part where they worship. Worshippers may sit
on the floor barefoot facing an image of Buddha and chanting. They will listen to monks chanting
from religious texts, perhaps accompanied by instruments, and take part in prayers.
Types of Buddhism
Theravada Buddhism
Theravada Buddhism translates to the “Way of the Elders,” and is the oldest form of Buddhism
existing. Using the Pali language. This is the collection of the Buddha’s earliest teachings and
discourses. Theravada is most popular in Southeast Asia, in countries such as Thailand, Burma
(Myanmar), Cambodia, and Laos. There are further four types of Theravada Buddhism.
✣ Thai Forest
✣ Burmese Buddhism
✣ Insight Meditation
Mahayana Buddhism
The term Mahayana means “great vehicle” and refers the path of the bodhisattva. In Mahayana
Buddhism, the aim of practice is generally not to attain enlightenment for oneself but to cultivate
Buddhahood for all sentient beings. Mahayana monks tend to live with less strict rules than
Theravada monks. They often eat vegetarian and are able to participate in more activities than
Theravada monastics. In many Mahayana traditions, there are teachings outside the Pali canon.
There are further types of Mahayana Buddhism
✣ Nichiren
✣ Pure Land
Vajrayana Buddhism
Vajrayana Buddhism is sometimes considered a type of Mahayana, while other scholars consider
it its own specific type of Buddhism. The most famous form of this school is Tibetan Buddhism.
Vajrayana Buddhism is sometimes called Tantric or Esoteric Buddhism. It involves the use of
tantric, or specific spiritual techniques which help individuals gain enlightenment as quickly as
possible. Because the practices are considered advanced, they may be dangerous if worked without
proper guidance. The practices can lead individuals into more craving, clinging, and suffering if
not done carefully. With proper work, it is believed that tantric practice can bring you to full
enlightenment in this lifetime, rather than waiting for countless reincarnations.
Ethics in Buddhism
Animals
Overall Buddhism is an animal friendly religion some aspect of the traditional surprisingly
negative about animals. Early Buddhists (but not the Buddha himself) used the idea that animals
were spiritually inferior as a justification for the exploitation and mistreatment of animals.
Capital punishment
The Buddha did not explicitly speak about capital punishment, but his teachings show no sympathy
for physical punishment, no matter how bad the crime.
Organs donation
There are no rules in Buddhism for or against organ donation, but central to Buddhism is a wish
to relieve suffering. In Buddhism the decision for or against organ donation relies very much on
an individual's decision. People may decide for or against it, without one choice being seen as
right, and the other wrong.
War
Non-violence is at the heart of Buddhist thinking and behavior. The first of the five precepts that
all Buddhists should follow is "Avoid killing, or harming any living thing. “Buddhism is
essentially a peaceful tradition. Nothing in Buddhist scripture gives any support to the use of
violence as a way to resolve conflict.
5) Royal patronage
Royal patronage greatly helped in the rapid growth of Buddhism. The rulers like Asoka Kaniska
and Harshavardhan championed the cause of Buddhism and adopted several measures for its
spread throughout India and outside India.
No rival of Buddhism
At that time there was no rival of Buddhism in India.
Decline of Buddhism
1) Role of Buddhist sanghas
The significance reason of the decline and fall of Buddhism was the role of Buddhist sanghas. The
sanghas became corrupt lusty and demoralized.
2) Revival of Brahmanism
The revival of Brahmanism also played a important role in the decline of Buddhism. The rituals
and practices were simplified.
5) Changes in worship
The Mahayana Buddhist started worshiping of Buddha as a god. This image worship was a clear
violation of the Buddhist principle of Buddha. Due to this image worship Buddhism lost its
importance in people.
6) Muslim invasion
The Muslims invasions practically proved to be disastrous for Buddhism in India. The riches of
Buddhist viharas attracted the attention of the Muslims invades. So the Buddhist viharas became
the target of Muslims invasion whose sole intension was to plunder the wealth because of policy
ahimsa or non-violence the Buddhist monks couldn’t resist the Muslims attack.
Sources;
BBC –religion
www.pbs.org/edens/thailand/buddhism.htm
https://oneminddharma.com/types-of-buddhism/
https://thebuddhistcentre.com/text/four-noble-truths
The spirit of Buddhism by Gour H.S
Decline of Buddhism in India by Mitra R.C