Buddhism in culture and media around the world.
Buddhism is a tradition that focuses on personal spiritual development. Buddhist practices like meditation 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 Dadasaheb Phalke in 1923. Two years later, another important Buddha film was released ‘The Light of Asia’. This movie was made by the German filmmaker Franz Osten.Its title suggests that the script was based on the book The Light of Asia composed by the British poet Sir Edwin Arnold. 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
Buddhism. Many aspects of the belief system represent notions of continuity and change including gender roles, sacred places and scripts and the contemporary issue of technology.
Buddhism is an ever-growing religion with approximately 350 million adherents worldwide, prominently found in Thailand, Indo-China, Burma, and Sri Lanka[1]. The word “Buddhism” comes from “Budhi” which literally means ‘to awaken’. This essentially makes up the basis for the belief system as it originated when Siddhartha Gautama, an Indian prince commonly known as Buddha, was himself awakened during his lifetime. It is every adherent’s goal in life to reach this same state of enlightenment, or nirvana. Not only is Buddhism a religion, it is often a way of life for many Buddhists[2]. Buddhism is a traditionalistic religion containing aspects that remain constant over time but is also highly adaptable and advances with current global progressions and issues. Many aspects of the belief system represent notions of continuity and change including gender roles, sacred places and scripts and the contemporary issue of technology. Buddhism has been subject to both aspects of continuity and change almost from the time the religion originated. This was clearly highlighted in the role and acceptance of dissent in the belief system in 383BC. This was after Buddha’s death in a time known as the Second Council where a large change occurred and the significant split into two variants of the religion occurred. This was due to arising conflicting interpretations of Buddha’s
Is the foundation of Buddhism a practical philosophy and psychotherapy? Critically discuss the issues and present your argument/analysis.
BUDDHISM: A HISTORY Topic: Is the foundation of Buddhism based on myth, fanatical or blind faith? Is the foundation of Buddhism a practical philosophy and psychotherapy? Critically discuss the issues and present your argument/analysis. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The foundation of Buddhism is rooted in rational intellectual comprehension through the cultivation of wisdom. It encourages faith with profound understanding authenticated by listening, by seeing and deepened by insightful thought in order to gain an understanding. Buddhism is not founded on myth, fanatical or blind faith but it is developed through self contemplation and an experience of insight, thereby kept from illusion. It emphasizes the practical intention of putting Buddha's teachings to work, instead of submissively accepting them as revealed truth. Buddhism is a practical philosophy in that it has specific methods of application on various sets of philosophical principles. It is founded on a psychotherapy concerned with suffering, the awareness of suffering and the means of relief and release from it to find peace and happiness. Practices in Buddhism include having faith in the Buddha and Bodhisattvas because of their virtues, wisdom, and understanding the philosophical teachings of the Buddha Dharma. Faith in Buddhism is not hostile towards wisdom but
In what ways and to what extent did the European Enlightenment challenge established sources of authority?
In what ways and to what extent did the European Enlightenment challenge established sources of authority? The Enlightenment is the name given to an intellectual movement developed in Western Europe in the 17th and 18th Century. It came about through the ideas and attitudes of a group of writers (called philosophes in France), who helped create 'a new framework of ideas about man, society and nature'. (Hamilton 1992:23) These philosophers established a direct challenge to the traditional conception of the world generated by the Roman church. The Philosophers involved believed that they were more enlightened than their compatriots and set out to enlighten them; hence the period of time was labelled the 'enlightenment'. These philosophers were strongly influenced by the rise of modern science and by what had happened after the long religious conflict that followed the Reformation. They were committed to views based on reason or human understanding, which they believed would provide a basis for changes affecting every area of life and thought. The enlightenment was not something that happened all at once, and did not begin or end on a specific date. Some people believe that the enlightenment is ongoing and still to this day hasn't ended. Like the enlightenment the scientific revolution is linked mainly with the likes of Galileo, Francis Bacon, and Isaac Newton.
The difference in religions: Bahai and Buddhism.
The difference in religions: Bahai and Buddhism Done By: Lim Tze Kai Bahai A relatively new world religion, the Baha'i faith attempts to unite all humanity in the belief that there is only one God. It began when a young man announced that a new messenger of God would appear. Unfortunately this announcement was made in Iran a very Muslim state, and the young prophet Bab was executed along with thousands of his followers. One of his followers, a member of a wealthy family was banished to Iraq and eventually imprisoned. While imprisoned he realized that he was the messiah that his former leader was speaking of. While in prison Bahá'u'lláh which means Glory of God spread his inspirational message to his followers through extensive correspondence. After his death in 1892 his successor took the faith to other parts of the world as a missionary. The Baha'i faith has it's roots in Islam as they believe in one God but rejects some of the teachings of Muhammad such as the practice of polygamy and slavery. The Bahais principals are summed up as: . The end of prejudice 2. Equality for women 3. Acceptance of the relativity and unity of spiritual truth 4. Just distribution of wealth 5. universal education 6. an individual's responsibility to seek the truth 7. the development of a world federation 8. Harmony of science and true religion. Bahá'u'lláh led a group
Select, describe and explain the events in the life of Siddhartha Gantama which illustrate his religious development
(1) a) Select, describe and explain the events in the life of Siddhartha Gantama which illustrate his religious development. It was quite obvious that Siddhartha Gantama was destined to become a very special man before he was even born. In 563 BCE Siddhartha's mother dreamt that a great six-tusked white elephant entered her womb and soon after she found she was pregnant. When she was walking through the woods one day she felt something unusual. As she gasped the branch of a tree Siddhartha emerged painlessly from her side. The minute Siddhartha was born he took seven steps to the north, south, east and west and said 'In this universe, I have come to purify the confused mind of all living beings'. Some say that as he walked lotuses blossomed from behind him, fountains sprang from the ground and a rainbow appeared in the sky. These events all indicated the Buddha's holiness. Asita, an astrologer read Siddhartha's stars and it became clear that he would either become a great king or a great holy man. As a child Siddhartha became exceptionally clever, being brilliant at everything he tried. It was when Siddhartha saw the 'Four Sights', a sick man, an old man and a corpse, and finally a holy man that he questioned the cause of suffering and decided to become a holy man as was predicted by Asita. He joined a group of ascetics for six years, almost starving himself to death. One
Comparing Gotma to Siddhartha, why did Siddhartha reach his goal and not Gotma?
Comparing Gotma to Siddhartha, why did Siddhartha reach his goal and not Gotma? Siddhartha and Govinda both begin their journeys searching after the same goal, to find themselves and attain nirvana. They travel many of the same paths but each thinks differently in their situations. But while Siddhartha eventually reaches Nirvana, Govinda does not because he never learns to absorb what is around him and learn from life like Siddhartha does but mistakenly tries to find peace through other peoples lives. Even from the beginning you can see distinct differences in the mind set between Siddhartha and Gotma, one as a thinker and one as a follower. Siddhartha had grown uneasy in his state as a Brahman's son. The riches of his lifestyle babied him too much and blocked him from the real world. He wanted to go off on his own and experience and find himself. Siddhartha is a Scientific thinker, his brain is always wanting and explanation and continues to ask questions and at this point his maturing mind is starting to doubt the Brahman and Hindu ways. The repetitious ways of the daily prayers and rituals seemed an unreal way to finding nirvana. Something that never changes cannot lead higher, it always stays at the same level. So when a group of samanas passes through town he joined their lead, wanting to experience their lives and to learn from them. Everyone was shocked at his
A discussion of the Buddhist beliefs about Buddha and Christian beliefs about Christ
A discussion of the Buddhist beliefs about Buddha and Christian beliefs about Christ Over the years different religions have come into existence and many have branched out into further denominations, even so there are many similarities between them. I have selected the two religions Buddhism and Christianity with which I will explore this idea and I will focus mainly on their founders, Buddha and Christ. The first similarity between these two religions is that they have both adopted new names for their founders. The word Buddha literally means "enlightened one" and so this title was given to the Buddha only after he had become enlightened. Before his enlightenment the Buddha was known as Siddhartha Gautama. To non-believers the founder of Christianity is known as Jesus but to Christians he is known as Christ, "the anointed one". Although the facts about the two founder's births and upbringings are different, there is a similarity in that they both have myths told regarding their births. Everyone knows of the myth regarding Jesus' birth that is popular at Christmas time. Matthew's Gospel tells of the wise men from the east who asked, "Where is the baby born to be king of the Jews? We saw his star when it came up in the east, and we have come to worship him." King Herod called for the visitors and sent them to look for the child. When they were on their way they
Today is a result of yesterday, tomorrow is a result of today.(TM) To what extent is this statement an apt representation of Buddhist ethics?
'Today is a result of yesterday, tomorrow is a result of today.' To what extent is this statement an apt representation of Buddhist ethics? 'Today is a result of yesterday, tomorrow is a result of today.' - This statement, as a representation of Buddhist ethics, would seem to suggest the realm of ethical action is effectively deterministic. This raises many questions about the nature of Buddhist ethics, most significantly: Is this a coherent position? If today is a result of yesterday how can one be said to be possessed of free will? And if one has no free will surely one cannot be considered a moral agent - thus consequently, are responsible for one's actions. In this essay I will consider the evidence and arguments supporting this interpretation, together with counter-arguments in order to discuss the statement and reasoning behind this, resulting in my conclusion that will encompass all these arguments. Firstly I will look at morality in Buddhism as it is a Buddhist's ethics which determine their behaviour which ultimately affects the results of tomorrow. Classifying Buddhist ethics can be considered an instance of virtue ethics, centred on the idea that the basis of morality is the development of good character traits which, in Aristotle's system for example, include intelligence, wisdom (sila), and the ability to discern between good and bad. Peter Harvey contended that
The content of the heart sutra
To what extent does the heart sutra contain the essence of Buddhist teaching? The Heart Sutra or Prajnaparamita (Perfection of Wisdom) is an extremely popular text particularly for the Mahayanist stream of Buddhism and is also popular within Zen Buddhism where it is chanted daily across the world. Written not long after the Pali Cannon, the Sutra describes the enlightenment of Avlokitesvara (the bodhisattva of compassion) and is described as an insight into the nature of ultimate reality through intuitive wisdom. It is often said to be favoured for its ability to encapsulate many Buddhist concepts with depth and brevity. Arguably its shortness may not do justice to the extent of the Buddha's teachings, and it also does not come from the Buddha himself. Yet perhaps its brevity reflects the essence of Buddhist teaching in the first place. Many key Buddhist concepts are present in the sutra, such as meditation to reach Prajna or wisdom, emptiness (sunyata), the five aggregates, anatta and the cessation of suffering. But does the Sutra satisfactorily sum up all Buddhist concepts? Many Buddhist beliefs are found within this sutra. In the second verse the sutra discusses the Skandha of form reinforcing the idea that we are only made of aggregates, this is confirmed in the lines "Form is no other than emptiness, emptiness no other than form" which is then repeated. This sums up