Buddhism in culture and media around the world.

Authors Avatar by samlolpunk (student)

Buddhism is a tradition that focuses on personal spiritual development. Buddhist practices like  are means of changing yourself in order to develop the qualities of awareness, kindness, and wisdom.It explaines that all our problems and suffering arise from confused and negative states of mind, and that all our happiness and good fortune arise from peaceful and positive states of mind.

                                 Buddhism as a theme seems to have had only a glancing presence in cinema until the 90s.The first known film about the life of Buddha was ‘Lord Buddha’ which was produced by the well-known Indian filmmaker  in 1923. Two years later, another important Buddha film was released ‘The Light of Asia’. This movie was made by the German filmmaker .Its title suggests that the script was based on the book  composed by the British poet . The film was a greater success in Europe than in India.

 Being born into a certain culture and religion brings a different set of challenges. Movies can create a window into a culture. In general, movies about Buddhism will either focus on historical events and people, or the applied teachings in an individual’s life. Both types are helpful in understanding Buddhist teachings and gives a frame of reference for understanding how the teachings were developed.

Buddhism was introduced to Europe and the USA in the 19th Century, with most traditions

and their arts now being represented. Many well known western artists in the past century

have been influenced by Buddhism. Contemporary Buddhist art is just emerging in the UK. There are over 151,816 Buddhists in the UK from culturally and racially diverse backgrounds and Buddhist organisations from all traditions all of which welcome people from all ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

Traditional Buddhist art forms are made to complement and enhance traditional practices found in temples, monasteries, centres, hermitages, the home and places of retreat. These art forms are still practised and can include wall and scroll paintings, sculpture ,carvings, textiles, hand crafted ritual implements, illustrated sacred texts and poetry.

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Many people who make Buddhist art regard it as a spiritual practice, for in order to make trulysublime work, it helps if one meditates and has the right view and intention from the  outset. . It also serves educational purposes in areas of low literacy, helping people to understand the teachings and reducing suffering.

It is important not to confuse the Buddhist spiritual path with a particular culture. As

mentioned earlier, the culture may influence practices and outer forms, but the essential

teachings are the same, regardless of culture.

As with visual art, there is a wide range of contemporary Buddhist and ...

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