Difference between revisions of "Buddhism"
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Japan ** 50 | Japan ** 50 | ||
| − | China: | + | * [[China]]: Buddhism is most widely practiced, with an estimated 100 million adherents. |
| − | *Tibet is an estimate, as their has never been a reliable survey. Furthermore, it is debatable whether Tibet should be considered an independant nation. | + | * Tibet is an estimate, as their has never been a reliable survey. Furthermore, it is debatable whether Tibet should be considered an independant nation. |
| − | **Japan is an "odd" case, as surveys of adherence are conducted rather differently. Firstly it is debatable at what point various Japanese beliefs shift from being traditions to being religions. This is indicated by the fact that "85% of Japanese claim Buddhism as their preffered religion", yet "75% percent claim to practice and believe in no religion" -a more accurate estimate may be 20%. | + | ** [[Japan]] is an "odd" case, as surveys of adherence are conducted rather differently. Firstly it is debatable at what point various Japanese beliefs shift from being traditions to being religions. This is indicated by the fact that "85% of Japanese claim Buddhism as their preffered religion", yet "75% percent claim to practice and believe in no religion" -a more accurate estimate may be 20%. |
<ref>[http://www.adherents.com/largecom/com_buddhist.html The Largest Buddhist Communities]</ref> | <ref>[http://www.adherents.com/largecom/com_buddhist.html The Largest Buddhist Communities]</ref> | ||
Revision as of 23:10, December 7, 2007
Buddhism is the fifth largest religion in the world. It is a belief system which teaches that desire causes suffering and if desire is eliminated, enlightenment and Nirvana are attained. Buddhism is a Dharmic religion. The term Buddha means "the enlightened one."
Founder
Buddhism's foundations lie with an Indian prince, Siddhartha Gautama, who, after being sheltered until adulthood, finally observed the suffering of his people. After that he worked to discover the reason for suffering and pain. He studied a number of the disciplines of the day, seeking ultimate truth. After finding other approaches to understanding lacking, he went into meditation for 49 days, vowing not to move until he had attained enlightenment. After great personal struggle he achieved enlightenment, and began to teach the principles that are now associated with Buddhism.
The philosophy has its roots in Hinduism and Vedic religion, to which Gautama belonged until the foundation of Buddhism.
View of God
Buddhist scriptures acknowledge that gods exist, but does not consider that knowledge crucial to an individual's practice of Buddhist teachings. The Buddha taught that we should not speculate about what we cannot know, and that speculation about God is pointless. Buddhists' priorities are release from suffering and direct experience of the true nature of reality. Many modern strains of Buddhism are atheistic in nature, thus creating a paradox as to why they are called a religion. They can be considered to be philosophies of life. Certain denominations, such as the Mahayana tradition, believe in Bodhisattvas, or quasi-divine cosmic beings that seek to benefit others by remaining in a state of Samsara, or eternal rebirth. These are prayed to, for advice and spiritual guidance, and often venerated.
Teachings
The highest ideal for a Buddhist is the state of Nirvana, or release from eternal rebirth, a state beyond conceptual thought described by the Buddha as follows:
"There is O monks, an Unborn, Unoriginated, Uncreated, Unformed. Were there not, o monks, this Unborn, Unoriginated, Uncreated, Unformed, there would be no escape from the world of the born, originated, created, formed. ~ Udana, 80-81"
Buddhism is a very practical philosophy, which teaches us to focus our attention on personal experience, to determine what is the cause of our discontents ("dukkha") and to find a way to liberate ourselves from these, all the while expressing "metta", which is universal, unconditional love, and "karuna", which roughly translates to "compassion", towards others. These teachings are encapsulated in the "Four Noble Truths".[1]
Buddhism is commonly held to be a relatively peaceful Religion, due to it's relative lack of a leader for the entire faith(as opposed to individual states), as well as a less "absolutist" view of morality, that encouraged not just acceptance of other faiths and ideas, but examination of the said ideas and, if neccesary, application to ones life. This also allows people to follow Buddhism as a philosophy, and Islam, Judaism or Christianity as a faith, without contradicting any principles of either following. It is worth noting, however, that it is impossible for one to follow Buddhism as a faith, and Christianity, Islam or most other religions as a philosophy. Although Buddhism does not forbid this, most religions are not structured to allow such a compromise.[2]
However the ideals of tolerance and introspection among the Buddhist faithful were often ignored by the leaders of the a Buddhist nation(much like the leaders of most other nationsoftened disobeyed their own religions fundamental laws in the in the interest of what was practical). [3]
Buddhism Today
Buddhism is currently the majority religion in the following states:
Country Percent
Thailand 95%
Cambodia 90
Myanmar 88
Bhutan 75
Sri Lanka 70
Tibet * 65
Laos 60
Vietnam 55
Japan ** 50
- China: Buddhism is most widely practiced, with an estimated 100 million adherents.
- Tibet is an estimate, as their has never been a reliable survey. Furthermore, it is debatable whether Tibet should be considered an independant nation.
- Japan is an "odd" case, as surveys of adherence are conducted rather differently. Firstly it is debatable at what point various Japanese beliefs shift from being traditions to being religions. This is indicated by the fact that "85% of Japanese claim Buddhism as their preffered religion", yet "75% percent claim to practice and believe in no religion" -a more accurate estimate may be 20%.