Download Buddhism - Ms. Coates

October 28, 2010
Socials 8, Block B
Ms. Coates
Chris Jeon
Chris Li
Liam Hayden
Buddhism
Q A1:What are the basic beliefs of the religion?
A: Buddhists believe that a prince from India called Siddartha Gautama became the
Buddha, “the enlightened”, when he sacrificed his wealth for the well-being of others. He
was always helping people with their troubles and thinks that it is the result of worrying,
physical stress, and selfishness. However, Siddartha and other Buddhists believe that
their problems could be relieved by “The Eight Fold Path”, basically eight rules. These
eight rules are: Right understanding, thought, speech, action, livelihood, effort,
mindfulness, and contemplation. This includes spending time meditating and residing at
monasteries. Though many people think meditation is just closing your eyes while sitting
cross-legged and saying hummmmmm, it’s real purpose is actually to empty your mind
from thoughts. Monasteries are places in which Buddhists live and visit to practice their
religion. Being more open-minded, adaptable and having a positive mindset will help
you avoid any obstacles that come your way and is also a part of “The Eight Fold Path”.
After your harms have been fixed, you are known to have achieved Nirvana. Buddhists
also believe in reincarnation. Reincarnation is when the soul of a dead body is reborn
into another body to find peace. Overall, Buddhism gives people a realistic approach to
life, encourages people to be compassionate and grateful for others, and allows people
to live a more appreciative, happy life.
Q A2: What are the origins of the religion (place, event, timeline)?
A: Buddhism is one of the oldest religions in the world. It in 6 BCE when Siddhartha
Guatama envisioned suffering on the street. He envisioned an old man who was poor
and hungry. This made him want to leave his position as prince and want to understand
these things such as poverty and famine. His parents did not approve of this, but
eventually he did run away from his family.
After wandering around like a “White Elephant” he finally found his truth by meditating
under a bo tree. It motivated him to make up the Four Noble Truths, which pretty much
outlines how to end suffering.
The Four Noble Truths are:

All life is suffering; the reason for suffering is desire.
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

The only way to end suffering is to end desire, and the only way to end desire is
to follow the Eightfold Path.
The Eightfold Path pretty much says things like right thought, right speech, right
behavior, etc
It then started from India in 500 BCE and was adopted by Asoka the philosopher king in
the 200s B.C. during his rule of the Maurya Empire. Then Buddhism became global
since then.
Q A3: What are the important symbols and traditions of the religion?
A: Buddha did not like to see himself so to symbolize him in early art the eight spoked
wheel, bodhi tree, Buddhas footprints, empty throne and begging bowl are used to
represent him
-The Eight-Spoked Dharma Wheel or 'Dharmachakra' symbolises the Buddha's
turning the Wheel of Truth or Law
-The Bodhi Tree refers to the tree under which the Buddha achieved
enlightenment
-The Throne is both a reference to Siddharta Gautama's royal ancestry and to
the idea of spiritual kingship - enlightenment as ruler of the spiritual world.
-The Lion is one of Buddhism's most potent symbols. Traditionally, the lion is
associated with regality, strength and power
-The begging bowl, or alms bowl, is one of the simplest but most important
objects in the daily lives of Buddhist monks. It is primarily a practical object, used as a
bowl in which to collect alms either money or food from lay supporters.
- Buddhist new year
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In Theravadin countries, Thailand, Burma, Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Lao, the
new year is celebrated for three days from the first full moon day in April. In
Mahayana countries the new year starts on the first full moon day in January.
However, the Buddhist New Year depends on the country of origin or ethnic
background of the people. As for example, Chinese, Koreans and Vietnamese
celebrate late January or early February according to the lunar calendar, while
the Tibetans usually celebrate about one month later.
Q B1: What are the gods? How many?
A: Generally, there is no god or goddess in Buddhism because Buddhists do not
believe in a personal god. Buddhism is more of a philosophical religion when it does not
offer forgiveness of sins, a heaven, or a final judgment on life.
Q B4: How popular is the religion today?
A: There are 327 million Buddhists worldwide (313,114,000 in Asia) some places like
Hawaii, Japan and Korea have people practicing Buddhism. It is very popular in Asian
countries such as India, but it is starting to get popular in the West. In fact, there is
about 362,000 Canadians who worship Buddhism today.
Q B7: What do you have to do to become part of the religion?
A: You must read about Siddhartha Gautama the exalted one, the father of Buddhism.
•was a spiritual teacher from ancient India who founded Buddhism. In most Buddhist
traditions, he is regarded as the Supreme Buddha of our age, Buddha meaning
awakened one or "the enlightened one.
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•Thus is the Noble Truth of Suffering
1.Thus is the Noble Truth of the Accumulation of Suffering
2.Thus is the Noble Truth of the Elimination of Suffering
3.Thus is the Noble Truth of the Path that Leads Away from Suffering
•Buddhist meditation in order to free your mind from worry and focus on the present to
achieve inner peace.
•The basic purpose of samatha or tranquility meditation is to still the mind and train it to
concentrate. The object of concentration is less important than the skill of concentration
itself, and varies by individual and situation. One Pali texts lists 40 kammatthanas,
which include:
•devices (like color or light)
•repulsive things (like a corpse)
•recollections (such as sayings of the Buddha)
•virtues (like loving-kindness)
•Understand and research the concepts of rebirth and Karma.
•Karma is pretty much what goes around comes around
•Rebirth is conditioned by the karmas actions of body, speech and mind of previous
lives, good karmas will have a happier rebirth, bad karmas will produce one which is
more unhappy
•For example you could have good karma and be reborn as a kitten, dog, and human or
other nice animal, if you had bad karma you could be reborn as a supernatural force
who is unhappy
•You must practice this all of these steps EVERY DAY
•FIVE things you CAN’T do:
•1. Do not kill. 2. Do not steal. 3. Do not engage in sexual misconduct.4. Do not lie.
5. Do not use intoxicants.
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Q B8: What race/cultures are associated with this religion?
A: Most followers of Buddhism today inhabit a lot of Southern Asia. Some larger
countries include China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and the region of Tibet located in
Western China. Other smaller countries such as Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Thailand are
associated with Buddhism as well. Therefore, the Asian race like the Chinese,
Japanese, and Korean are the main followers of Buddhism. Slowly, Buddhism is starting
to spread to the west and more Westerners are becoming Buddhists too.
Q B9: What clothing is part of the religion?
A: All monks wear robes; most of them are made by the monks themselves. First they
are made out of white cotton, then the robes are dyed to the desirable colour. Robes
aren’t the only piece of clothing monks wear, as under their robe they put on normal
everyday clothing like socks, shirts, and sweaters. Similarly, followers of Buddhism
aren’t required to wear any sort of special clothing. Daily clothing such as a shirt and
jeans is fine.
Works Cited
Adherents.com. “Major Religions of the World Ranked by Number of Adherents.”
Online Posting. 9 August 2007.
<http://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html> (27 Oct. 2010).
Buddha Dharma Education Association. “Buddhist Studies: A timeline of Buddhist
History.” Online Posting. 2010.< http://www.buddhanet.net/elearning/history/b_chron.htm>
Buddha Dharma Education Association. “Buddhist Studies: Monastic Community.”
Online Posting. 2008. < http://www.buddhanet.net/elearning/buddhistworld/layguide.htm> (27 Oct. 2010).
Compare Infobase Limited. “Origin of Buddhism.” Online Posting. 2009.
<http://india.mapsofindia.com/the-country/ancient-history/origin-ofbuddhism.html>
(27 Oct. 2010).
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Cranny, Michael. Pathways: Civiliztions Through Time. Toronto, Ontario: Prentice Hall
Ginn Canada Pearson Education Canada Inc., 1998.
Dictionary.com, LLC. “Monastery.” Online Posting. 2010.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/monastery
Hope, Jane, and Borin Van Loon. Buddha: For Beginners. Cambridge: Icon Books Ltd.,
1994.
Let us Reason Ministries. “Basics of Buddhism.” Online Posting. 2009.
<http://www.letusreason.org/Buddh1.htm>
Snelling, John. Religions of the World: Buddhism. Hove East Sussex, England:
Wayland Publishers Limited, 1986.
Steed, Judy. “How Buddhism found me and made me happy”. Toronto Star. pg. IN2 (24
October, 2010): 27 October 2010
http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=3&hid=9&sid=69c607a7-291c-43c0aee3a3ad31b347da%40sessionmgr10&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3
d%3d#db=nfh&AN=6FP2636772009#db=nfh&AN=6FP2636772009
Wangu, Madhu Bazaz. Buddhism: World Religions. New York: Facts on File, Inc., 1993.
White, Brian. “Buddhist Studies: Basic Buddhism.” Online Posting. 2008.
<http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/5minbud.htm> (27 Oct. 2010).
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