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Buddhism
By Katie Weitzman, Sarah White,
and Suzi Birnbaum
Where/How the religion originated
Siddhartha Gautama was born in Lumbini. He saw so
much suffering and wanted to learn how to get away
from it. He lived in the forest with monks until he had
reached Enlightment. He had then become Buddha,
the "awakened/enlightened one". What he learned,
and then preached around was what is known as
Therevada. Buddhism originated in northern India, and
diffused only slightly. It started in a region called
"Magadha," then spread to India around 250 BCE, and
became the first worldwide religion just a few years
later. The first country it spread to after India was Sri
Lanka.
How the religion diffused
Buddhism diffused from its hearth along the "Silk
Road," a major trade route. It took 1-2 hundred years
to diffuse beyond its home province.
Subdivisons
1. Mahayana (Collection of Zen, Pure Land, and Tibetan
Buddhism)
2. Therevada (popular in southern Asian countries. sometimes
called Southern Buddhism)
3. Korean zen (Buddhism arrived in Korea in 4 CE. Zen arrived
in 7 CE)
4. Nichiren (began in midieval Japan between 1222-1282)
5. Zen (mixture of Indian and Taoism buddhism. Began in
China, spread to Korea and Japan.)
6. Pure Land (also known as buddha Recitation because one
meditates/visualizes/orally recites Buddha's mind)
How the diffusion of Buddhism
changes in different places
The two main types of Buddhism are Mahayana and
Theravada. Mahayana believes in self power and an other
power. One needs more self power to find the "other power"
instead of the other way around, in order to reach, "rebirth in
the Land of Ultimate Bliss through the power of
Amitabha Buddha's Vows". Theravada believes in self power
alone.
Two Different Buddhas
The Theravada Buddha
believe in the "Historical
Buddha" the actual, once
living buddha. Historical
Buddha is usually simple,
with no jewelry or ornaments.
They usually have long ears
(all hearing), a bump on the
head (all knowing), and
another bump on the
forehead (all seeing). Lastly,
the positioning of the hands
on the Buddha have
symbolism.
The Mahayana Buddha, is
called Bodhisattva is the
buddha in which people who
are getting to the stage of
Enlightment worship.
They usually wear
fancy ornaments
or jewelry because
they represent
certain messages.
The only characteristic
they share with Historical
Buddha is the long ears.
Mahayana Buddha
Therevada Buddha
How the environment influenced
Buddhism
"(Buddha's) birth at Lumbini as his mother grasped the branch
of a sal tree, his early experience of states of meditative
absorption beneath the rose apple tree, his Enlightenment
beneath the Bodhi-tree, and his Parinirvana (death) between
twin sal trees." This shows the connection between Buddha's
life and the environment.
The cultural landscape
In the 7th century Buddhism expanded in China, influencing
Chinese art, literature, architecture, education and philosophy.
In Korea, Buddhism spread around through art and peaked in
the 10th century.Buddhism was practiced in historcal Korean
monasteries.Translations of Buddha's words on wooden blocks
are preserved to this day. Buddhism collapsed from 14-20 CE.
Today's revival of Buddhism consists of education/missionary
activities, universities, schools, youth groups, are translating
the Chinese Buddhist texts into Korean.
Buddhism traveled to Japan and many statues and temples
were built in Buddha's honor. The government tried to get rid of
Buddhism though it is still practiced today.
How the interaction of Buddhism and
other religions creates conflicts
Sri Lanka: between Buddhists and Hindus
Tamils (a mainly Hindu 18% minority) have been involved in a war for
independence since 1983 with the rest of the Sinhalese
Buddhist country (70% are Buddhist). Hundreds of thousands have
been killed. The conflict took a sudden change for the better in 2002,
when the Tamils dropped their demand for complete independence.
The South Asian Tsunami in 2004 induced some cooperation. By 2009
the Tamil uprising was crushed.
Thialand: between Buddhists and Muslims
Muslim rebels have been involved in a bloody insurgency in southern
Thailand -- an area that is 95% Buddhist.
Tibet: between Buddhists and Communists
The country was annexed by Chinese Communists in late 1950's.
Brutal suppression of Buddhism continues.
Conflicting Views: Buddha's beliefs
against the world
Abortion: Buddhists believe that the mother must apply to 5
conditions.
1. The thing being killed must be living
2. The killer must be aware of the first condition
3. The killer must have the intention to kill
4. There must be an effort to kill
5. The being must be killed
Since abortion fits all of this, the mother is killing her unborn
baby. Thus, karma is now on the mother, baby, and abortionist.
Hurting animals: When humans die, they are reborn through an
animal. Buddhists see the connection between animals and
humans.
Conflicting Views (continued)
Organ donation: It's okay for charity but the dead cannot be
disturbed too soon after death.
Contraception: Birth control is seen as killing babies, which is
the same as killing another human being so it's wrong. Birth
control harms the consciousness which has already been
embodied. Buddha objects to using birth control in order to
pursue sexual pleasure.
Bibliography
Buddha Dharma Education Association, N.p.. "Buddhism in East Asia." Buddhist Studies. N.p., 2008.
Web. 10 Jan. 2011. http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/buddhistworld/east-asia.htm.
Wallis, Nick. "Buddhism and the Environment." The Buddhist Centre. Triratna Buddhist Community, 2010.
Web. 10 Jan. 2011. http://www.fwbo.org/index.php.
Buddhist Artwork, . "Classifying Buddhist Deities and Buddha Statues." Buddhist Artwork. N.p., 2010.
Web. 8 Jan. 2011. http://www.buddhist-artwork.com/statues-buddhism/buddha-statues-intro-how-toclassify.html.
Robinson, B R. "Religiously-Based Civil Unrest and Warfare." Religious Tolerance. Ontario Consultants
on Religious Tolerance, 12 Mar. 1999. Web. 11 Jan. 2011. http://www.religioustolerance.org/curr_war.
htm.
"Buddhism." BBC Religion. BBC, 2011. Web. 11 Jan. 2011. http://www.bbc.co.
uk/religion/religions/buddhism/index.shtml.