Buddhism
"The teachings of the enlightened one" Introduction to Buddhism Buddhism is a nontheistic religion (Independent from the belief or non-belief of God). It was started in northeastern India (between India and Nepal) 2500 years ago. It was created by an Indian prince called Siddharta Gautama the young prince was shocked all the suffering that was present outside his palace walls, eventually, he lift his life in order to find answers. With time, he became the Buddha--the "Enlightened One." He spent the remaining 45 years of his life teaching the dharma (the path to liberation from suffering) and establishing the sangha (a community of monks). |
Worldview
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Worship
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Buildings and Places of Worship
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Sacred Texts
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Origins / Founder
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Rites of PassageWhen worshippers come to the temple to pay homage to the Buddhas, many of them perform several Mahayana rituals. Buddhists may chant, pray, meditate, eat vegetarian meals, and celebrate Buddhist holidays, such as the Buddha's Birthday and other Enlightenment dates of the Chinese lunar calendar.
Meditation: Meditation is about the mind and its purification. The purpose of meditation is to calm the wandering of our minds. |
FestivalsThe most important Buddhist festivals celebrate events in the Buddha's life.
Magha Puja Day (Fourfold Assembly or "Sangha Day")
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Holy Places
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Geography
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Organization
- There are over 488 million buddhist adherents all over the world.
- Buddhism is mainly practiced in south eastern Asia, and the country with the most buddhists is China with over 244 million, followed by thailand and japan.
- Two major extant branches of Buddhism are generally recognized by scholars: Theravada Buddhism (Pali: "The School of the Elders") and Mahayana Buddhism (Sanskrit: "The Great Vehicle"). In Theravada Buddhism, the ultimate goal is the attainment of the sublime state of Nirvana, achieved by practicing the Noble Eightfold Path (also known as the Middle Way), thus escaping what is seen as a cycle of suffering and rebirth. Theravada has a widespread following in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia.
Mahayana Buddhism, which includes the traditions of Pure Land, Zen, Nichiren Buddhism, Shingon, and Tiantai (Tendai) is found throughout East Asia. Rather than Nirvana, Mahayana instead aspires to Buddhahood via the bodhisattva path, a state wherein one remains in the cycle of rebirth to help other beings reach awakening. Vajrayana, a body of teachings attributed to Indian siddhas, may be viewed as a third branch or merely a part of Mahayana; Tibetan Buddhism, which preserves the Vajrayana teachings of eighth century India, is practiced in regions surrounding the Himalayas, Mongolia and Kalmykia. Tibetan Buddhism aspires to Buddhahood or rainbow body. - Buddhist schools vary on the exact nature of the path to liberation, the importance andcanonicity of various teachings and scriptures, and especially their respective practices. Buddhism denies a creator deity and posits that mundane deities such as Mahabrahma are misperceived to be a creator. Instead, the foundations of Buddhist tradition and practice are the Three Jewels: the Buddha, the Dharma (the teachings), and the Sangha (the community). "Taking refuge" in the triple gem has traditionally been a declaration and commitment to being on the Buddhist path, and in general distinguishes a Buddhist from a non-Buddhist. Development along the Buddhist path is generally accomplished by practicing some or all of theTen Meritorious Deeds; however, the threefold practice of generosity, virtue, and meditation (including samatha and vipassanā) is often given special emphasis. Other practices include the study of scriptures; cultivation of higher wisdom and discernment; renouncing conventional living and becoming a monastic; devotional practices; ceremonies; the Mahayana practices ofbodhicitta, invocation of buddhas and bodhisattvas, and the Vajrayana practices of Generation stage and Completion stage.