Buddhists are a people of considerable self-discipline and inner peace that have a profound belief system. These individuals believe in a deity known as Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama. Their main teachings include the “four noble truths.” These include existence is suffering; suffering has a cause, namely craving and attachment; there is an end of suffering, which is nirvana; and there is a path to the end of suffering, the "eightfold path" of right views. The right views are right resolve, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration (“Buddhism” 88). Buddhists describe reality in terms of process and relation rather than entity or substance. They believe experience is analyzed into five aggregates called skandhas. They are form or material existence, sensations, perceptions, psychic constructs, and consciousness. The central Buddhist teaching of non-self called anatman asserts that in the five aggregates no soul can be found. All supernatural occurrences arise in dependence on causes and conditions, and are subject to inevitable decay and death. The conditions are defined in a twelve-member chain called dependent origination or pratityasamutpada (“Buddhism” 89). It’s links are: ignorance, predisposition, consciousness, name-form, the senses, contact, craving, grasping, becoming, birth, old age, ignorance, and death. The religion expands in both mind and spirit, also encouraging expansion physically, bringing Buddhism to new countries.
The geography of the Buddhist creed has brought Buddhism over from India on the Silk Road. The Silk Road was a route from Europe to China; people would travel between the two to conduct trade. After Buddhism was a popular religion, the Han Prince would have different pilgrims travel the Silk Road to India. These pilgrims would go to India to conduct business or trade, and gain more information about the religion itself. Over time, there were Buddhist palaces built for worship of the people. The Silk Road is of importance besides the fact that it was the place for trade. If the Silk Road weren’t there then the Chinese people would not have Buddhism in their lives.
The contributions made by the Buddhist religion are well endowed. Ven Bhikshuni Thich Mandala was a Buddhist woman who made an amazing example of the contributions Buddhists make, including the women. Her life is indeed a life of a Buddhist with only giving and caring for others often before herself. She is thanked for her contribution to Buddhism and society at large in a newsletter on International Buddhist Women's Activities (“Life” 1). In 1955, with the political changes that went on in Vietnam at that time, Buddhist monasteries were encouraged to be more involved in social work. From her monastery, nuns were asked to volunteer to train to become nurses. As there wasn’t a volunteer, she was chosen and appointed in 1957 along with another nun to go and work with a Buddhist doctor in Tuy Koa where she received training for six months. She helped many people, but her greatest contribution to society was her work in orphanage homes and teaching students on the beliefs of Buddhism. According to the article, Mandala was praised for her accordance and example in leading others on the path to nirvana (“Life” 1). Buddhism is also believed to bring people to an inner peace, especially in America today. Some think meditation will constitute Buddhism's distinct contribution to American religious life. Different branches practice different varieties, but each begins with a simple awareness of breath drawn in and let out. "Americans have always been a do-it-yourself culture, and this is a do-it-yourself philosophy" (Funk). The Buddhists are people willing to give their preeminent abilities in order to achieve a peace with everyone they meet.
With such an insightful religion, Buddhism has thrived everlastingly and maintained a rank in the religion status that is difficult to surpass. Buddhism has a magnificently intense background and disposition in the Chinese culture. Their immense beliefs are more than enough to boast about and have an honest background and intention. The geographical route that has taken Buddhism to China has encouraged many to convert to Buddhism, which has graced China with its tranquil presence. The considerable contributions that Buddhism and Buddhists bring to others is astounding at times, and finds a place in most people’s hearts and minds. Overall, Buddhism conveys great peace with a hope for a better, everlasting life.
