Theravada Buddhism And The Human Condition Essay - 2258 Words

Theravada Buddhism is known to be the â€Å"a representative school of the earliest of the branches of Buddhism†, as it is also known as â€Å"Hinayana or the small vehicle† (Young). Founded by Buddha, this branch of religion is extremely similar to Hinduism in the fact that it seeks to help people reach a state of liberation from the cycle of Earthly rebirth, but one major difference is that Buddhism â€Å"emerged from the Buddha s honest and penetrating assessment of the human condition† instead of focusing on the connection we as individuals have with our perceived ultimacy or higher, all powerful being like many other religions do (Bullitt). Even though the teachings of Buddha consist of several aspects from The Four Noble Truths, The Eightfold Path, to everything in the world around is impermanent, three of the most important teachings would include: The concept of anatta, Buddha’s teaching that one must work out their own liberation in which he state d on his deathbed, and The First Noble Truth Dukkha. Despite its grotesque nature and imagery, James McTeigue’s famous 2006 film, V for Vendetta, illustrates not only the importance of these Buddhist concepts but that enlightenment is always possible no matter how dark one’s reality might be. Placed in the futuristic setting of Great Britain in which the dictator High Chancellor Adam Sutler rules with an iron fist, the film’s main protagonist V teams up with Evey Hammond in order to battle and overthrow the tyrannical regime they haveShow MoreRelatedIs Buddhism A Buddhist Or Not A Christian?1192 Words   |  5 Pages He said: â€Å"what I do good I feel good. What I do bad I feel bad. That’s my religion.† This quote highlights that every human being on this planet have the right to transform any ideology or attitude as their personal religion. They are seeking for a spiritual guidance that can help them to accomplish their purpose in this life. Th at’s why today we have a religion called Buddhism. It’s one of the major religion after christianism, Islam and Hinduism. According to a projection made by The Pew ResearchRead MoreEssay on Asian Art Museum in San Francisco1315 Words   |  6 Pagesthe  Asian Art Museum in San Francisco. Every first Sunday of the month, admission into the museum is free. It is my first time to visit there and I was most impressed with the huge number of Buddhas on display.  Most of the pieces are in excellent condition. It is amazing 600-year-old pottery and all these stone statues of Buddha that looks like it was made yesterday. What really brings this place to life for me are the brilliant combination of social mixers and live performance events mixed with culturalRead MoreA Brief History of Buddhism1417 Words   |  6 PagesBuddhism is one of the major religions of the world. It was founded by Siddhartha Guatama (Buddha) in Northeastern India. It arose as a monastic movement during a time of Brahman tradition. Buddhism rejected important views of Hinduism. It did not recognize the validity of the Vedic Scriptures, nor the sacrificial cult which arose from it. It also questioned the authority of the priesthood. Also, the Buddhist movement was open to people of all castes, denying that a persons worth could beRead MoreMahayana Vs. Theravada: A Multiform Comparison Essay1164 Words   |  5 PagesSignificant differences abound between the two principal schools of modern Buddhism, Mahayana and Theravada. Among the many distinctions that exist, a few could be considered especially integral to an understanding of how these mutually exclusive divisions contrast with each other. Before treating these specific dissimilarities, however, it must be established that the one, fundamental divergence between the sects, which could possibly be understood as resulting in the following earmarks that makeRead MoreThe Concepts Of Hinduism And Buddhism1749 Words   |  7 Pages The Concepts of Hinduism and Buddhism (Name) (Course name) (Instructors name) (Date of submission) The Concepts of Hinduism and Buddhism Buddhism and Hinduism have common roots: both religions have arisen in India. However, over long history of its formation, Buddhism has absorbed traditions of many civilizations of the East. It was not just a religion. This teaching is about personal enlightenment and contemplation of spirit. This awakening of soul has no reference to God. AccordingRead MoreThe Importance Of A Mahayana And Theravada Schools1671 Words   |  7 Pagesan intellectually complex religion. With a unique culture, this differentiates Buddhism from other religions. The complexity of Buddhism influenced by Buddhist schools changes an individual s perspective and attitudes. Interpretation of the stimulus will vary from a Theravada to a Mahayana Buddhist as their core beliefs of Buddhism differ from each other. This essay will analyse the views of a Mahayana and Theravada Buddhist towards the cartoon drawn by an Australian cartoonist and artist, MichaelRead MoreTaking a Look at Buddhism663 Words   |  3 Page sstudying the World religion textbook one of our chapter assigned was about Buddhism. I found the chapter very intriguing, since I am Christian that has not had much religion experiences outside of Christianity. The Buddhism chapter was very refreshing to read. I was captivated by the culture that I had to know more about it. That is why I decided to write about early Buddhism origins and practices in India. The word Buddhism represents â€Å"to awaken†. It emanates from two thousand five hundred yearsRead MoreThe Concept Of Hinduism And Buddhism1513 Words   |  7 PagesAND BUDDHISM Hinduism is often called one of the oldest living religions or oldest living major traditions amongst other religions still being practiced currently, this is due to the fact that certain elements within Hinduism stretches back for thousands of years. Hinduism is often referred to as â€Å"Sanatana Dharma†, a Sanskrit phrase meaning â€Å"the eternal law†. Also, it does not have a single definition mostly because it holds a vast array of beliefs and also because it can be linked to Buddhism, JainismRead MoreThe Tragedy Of Siddhartha s Life1758 Words   |  8 Pagespracticing ascetic. This is when he first perceived these realities of human life. He suddenly became aware of the causes of suffering in the world. This encounter showed him, what he thought was the way to overcome life s sufferings, the ascetic path. At the age of twenty-nine he left his wife, his son, and his palace behind to lead a life of extreme asceticism that he believed could lead him to the answer of overcoming human suffering. For six years Siddhartha Gautama followed asceticism and meditationRead MoreEssay about Buddhism1176 Words   |  5 PagesBuddhism Buddhism is the great oriental religion founded by Guatama Buddha, who lived and taught in India in the sixth century BC All Buddhists trace their faith to Buddha and revere his person (Frederic 15). Nearly all types of Buddhism include monastic orders whose members serve as teachers and clergy to the lay community (Maraldo 19). However, beyond these common features the numerous sects of modern Buddhism exhibit great variety in their beliefs and practices. In its oldest surviving form