The Origins of Buddhism

seriphab55

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Buddhism, founded in the late 6th century B.C.E. by Siddhartha Gautama (the "Buddha"), is an important religion in most of the countries of Asia. Buddhism has assumed many different forms, but in each case there has been an attempt to draw from the life experiences of the Buddha, his teachings, and the "spirit" or "essence" of histeachings (called dhamma or dharma) as models for the religious life. However, not until the writing of the Buddha Charita (life of the Buddha) by Ashvaghosa in the 1st or 2nd century C.E. do we have acomprehensive account of his life. The Buddha was born (ca. 563 B.C.E.) in a place called Lumbini near the Himalayan foothills, and he began teaching around Benares (at Sarnath). His erain general was one of spiritual, intellectual, and social ferment. This was the age when the Hindu ideal of renunciation of family and socia llife by holy persons seeking Truth first became widespread, and when the Upanishads were written. Both can be seen as moves away from the centrality of the Vedic fire sacrifice. แทงบาคาร่าออนไลน์

Siddhartha Gautama was the warrior son of a king and queen. According to legend, at his birth a soothsayer predicted that he might become a renouncer (withdrawing from the temporal life). To prevent this, his father provided him with many luxuries and pleasures. But, as a young man, he once went on a series of four chariot rides where he first saw the more severe forms of human suffering: old age, illness, and death (a corpse), as well as an ascetic renouncer. The contrast between his life and this human suffering made him realize that all the pleasures on earth where in fact transitory, and could only mask human suffering. Leaving his wife—and new son ("Rahula"—fetter) he took on several teachers and tried severe renunciation in the forest until the point of near-starvation. Finally, realizing that this too was only adding more suffering, he ate food and sat down beneath a tree to meditate. By morning (or some say six months later!) he had attained Nirvana (Enlightenment), which provided both the true answers to the causes of suffering and permanent release from it.

Now the Buddha ("the Enlightened or Awakened One") began to teach others these truths out of compassion for their suffering. The most important doctrines he taught included the Four Noble Truths and the Eight-Fold Path. His first Noble Truth is that life is suffering (dukkha). Life as we normally live it is full of the pleasures and pains of the body and mind; pleasures, he said, do not represent lasting happiness. They are inevitably tied in with suffering since we suffer from wanting them, wanting them to continue, and wanting pain to go so pleasure can come. The second Noble Truth is that suffering is caused by craving—for sense pleasures and for things to be as they are not. We refuse to accept life as it is. The third Noble Truth, however, states that suffering has an end, and the fourth offers the means to that end: the Eight-Fold Path and the Middle Way. If one follows this combined path he or she will attain Nirvana, an indescribable state of all-knowing lucid awareness in which there is only peace and joy. เว็บแทงบาคาร่า

The Eight-Fold Path—often pictorially represented by an eight-spoked wheel (the Wheel of Dhamma) includes: Right Views (the Four Noble Truths), Right Intention, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood/Occupation, Right Endeavor, Right Mindfulness (total concentration in activity), and Right Concentration (meditation). TheEight-Fold Path is pervaded by the principle of the Middle Way, which characterizes the Buddha's life. The Middle Way represents a rejection of all extremes of thought, emotion, action, and lifestyle. Rather than either severe mortification of the body or a life of indulgence insense pleasures the Buddha advocated a moderate or "balanced" wandering life-style and the cultivation of mental and emotional equanimity through meditation and morality. เว็บแทงบาคาร่าสด

After the Buddha's death, his celibate wandering followers gradually settled down into monasteries that were provided by the married laityas merit-producing gifts. The laity were in turn taught by the monks some of the Buddha's teachings. They also engaged in such practices as visiting the Buddha's birthplace; and worshipping the tree under which he became enlightened (bodhi tree), Buddha images in temples, and the relics of his body housed in various stupas or funeral mounds. A famous king, named Ashoka, and his son helped to spread Buddhism throughout South India and into Sri Lanka (Ceylon) (3rd century B.C.E.).

Many monastic schools developed among the Buddha's followers. This is partly because his practical teachings were enigmatic on several points; for instance, he refused to give an unequivocal answer about whether humans have a soul (atta/atman) or not. Another reason for the development of different schools was that he refused to appoint asuccessor to follow him as leader of the Sangha (monastic order). He told the monks to be lamps unto themselves and make the Dhamma their guide.

About the first century C.E. a major split occurred within the Buddhist fold-that between the Mahayana and Hinayana branches. Of the Hinayana ("the Lesser Vehicle") branch of schools, only the The ravada school (founded 4th century B.C.E.) remains; it is currently found in Sri Lanka and all Southeast Asian countries. This school stresses the historical figure of Gautama Buddha, and the centrality of the monk's life-style and practice (meditation). The ravada monks hold that the Buddha taught a doctrine of anatta (no-soul) when he spoke of the impermanence of the human body/form, perception, sensations/feelings, consciousness, and volition. They believe, however, that human beings continue to be "reformed" and reborn, and to collect karma until they reach Nirvana. The The ravada school has compiled a sacred canon of early Buddhist teachings and regulations that is called the Tripitaka.

The Mahayana ("Greater Vehicle") branch of schools began about the 1st century C.E.; Mahayanists are found today especially in Korea, China, Japan, and Tibet. The three most prominent schools are Pure Land, Chanor Zen, and Tantra. Mahayana schools in general utilize texts called sutras, stressing that lay people can also be good Buddhists, and that there are other effective paths to Nirvana in addition to meditation—for instance the chanting and good works utilized in Pure Land. They believe that the Buddha and all human beings have their origin in what is variously called Buddha Nature, Buddha Mind, or Emptiness. This is not "nothing," but is the completely indescribable Source of all Existence; it is at the same time Enlightenment potential. The form of the historical Buddha was, they say, only one manifestation of Buddha Nature. Mahayana thus speaks of many past and also future Buddhas, some of whom are "god-like" and preside over Buddha-worlds or heavenly paradises. Especially important are bodhi sattvas—who are persons who have reached the point of Enlightenment, but turn back and take a vow to use their Enlightenment-compassion, -wisdom, and -power to help release others from their suffering. Mahayana canon says that finally there is no distinction between "self" and "other," nor between samsara (transmigration, rebirth) and Nirvana! Because of this the bodhi sattvais capable of taking on the suffering of others in samsara and of transferring his own merit to them.

Although Buddhism became virtually extinct in India (ca. 12th century C.E.)—perhaps because of the all-embracing nature of Hinduism, Muslim invasions, or too great a stress on the monk's way of life—as a religion it has more than proved its viability and practical spirituality in the countries of Asia to which it has been carried. The many forms and practices that have been developed within the Buddhist fold have also allowed many different types of people to satisfy their spiritual needs through this great religion.
 
Happier than "other people" who are drug addicts, idolators, etc. I can believe it, but I believe a lot of buddist happiness is propaganda and cultic indoctrination.

OTOH becoming a practioner of Shaolin kung fu is probably quite enjoyable. You can go around beating up hooligans, and all such, which will likely give rise to an immense sense of satisfaction.
 
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Happier than "other people" who are drug addicts, idolators, etc. I can believe it, but I believe a lot of it is propaganda and cultic indoctrination.
To avoid all evil,​
to cultivate good,​
and to meditate –​
this is the teaching of the Buddhas.​
– Dhammapada 14:5​

Where is the "propaganda and cultic indoctrination" in that?
 
To avoid all evil,​
to cultivate good,​
and to meditate –​
this is the teaching of the Buddhas.​
– Dhammapada 14:5​

Where is the "propaganda and cultic indoctrination" in that?
It's a matter of interpretation as to what "good" means, and what "evil" means. Moreover: why aren't they following the teachings of Christ if this is the case? Methinks there is something wrong.
 
It's a matter of interpretation as to what "good" means, and what "evil" means. Moreover: why aren't they following the teachings of Christ if this is the case? Methinks there is something wrong.
Buddhism has five moral rules:
  • avoid injury to life.
  • avoid taking what is not given.
  • avoid sensual misconduct.
  • avoid false and malicious speech.
  • avoid intoxicants.
As well as things to avoid, there is something to do: "Love others as you love yourself." – Bhadramayakaravyakarana sutra, 91.

Do you have any problems with that?

Most Buddhists consider Jesus to have been a Bodhisattva. He is greatly respected, unlike His father, who kills far too many people, contrary to the first of the five moral rules.
 
Buddhism has five moral rules:
  • avoid injury to life.
Rats and other vermin need to be killed.

  • avoid taking what is not given.
So at least Buddhists avoid living the gypsy lifestyle, but that's not saying much.
  • avoid sensual misconduct.
Mealy-mouthed words.
  • avoid false and malicious speech.
You're not a good example of that.
  • avoid intoxicants.
I usually do and I'm not a Buddhist
As well as things to avoid, there is something to do: "Love others as you love yourself." – Bhadramayakaravyakarana sutra, 91.
So that means they should preach the gospel of Christ. But they're not doing that.
Do you have any problems with that?
Yes. It's all in the interpretation. You can't found a religion based on such precepts. It's far too simplistic.

Most Buddhists consider Jesus to have been a Bodhisattva. He is greatly respected, unlike His father, who kills far too many people, contrary to the first of the five moral rules.
In which case they don't believe in Jesus, because Jesus and his Father were one.
 
So, you are telling us that the Christian God can die? If Jesus was God and Jesus died on the cross...
No, Jesus wasn't God, he was one with God. So if Buddhists don't like his Father, they're not going to like Jesus, for his will and his Father's will are the same. The reason the Father kills is due to the sins of mankind. This is the problem with buddhism. It's an ancient and a fundamentally unenlighened and unsophisticated religion.
 
The reason the Father kills is due to the sins of mankind.
What sins had the unborn children whose pregnant mothers were drowned in the flood committed?

This is the problem with buddhism. It's an ancient and a fundamentally unenlighened and unsophisticated religion.
So why aren't you Muslim or LDS? Both of those are less ancient than Christianity.
 
What sins had the unborn children whose pregnant mothers were drowned in the flood committed?
None. I didn't say that God killed sinners to punish them, although he may do. I said God kills sinners (period). The reason is due to sin being in the world, and mankind being enslaved to sin. So the ground was cursed, as was prophesied to Adam.
So why aren't you Muslim or LDS? Both of those are less ancient than Christianity.
It's not to do with being ancient, so much as to do with being separated from the conventional strand of religion that came via Judaism. Buddhism is cultic, just as Islam is. To put so much faith in just one man is absurd.
 
None. I didn't say that God killed sinners to punish them, although he may do. I said God kills sinners (period). The reason is due to sin being in the world, and mankind being enslaved to sin. So the ground was cursed, as was prophesied to Adam.
You worship a God who kills the innocent? Who kills the unborn? Wholesale? Erm... don't call us; we'll call you.

It's not to do with being ancient, so much as to do with being separated from the conventional strand of religion that came via Judaism. Buddhism is cultic, just as Islam is. To put so much faith in just one man is absurd.
Conventional? That depends on where you live. There are many countries where Christianity is a minority religion and other countries where Buddhism is the majority religion. Christianity was not 'conventional' in 50 AD, it was a minority religion found in a few parts of the Roman Empire in small numbers. Does that make early Christianity wrong? There were more pagans than Christians back then after all.

You need a better argument here.
 
You worship a God who kills the innocent? Who kills the unborn? Wholesale? Erm... don't call us; we'll call you.
You have no idea of the concept of God. You're fondly imagining him to be the equivalent of a human being. You see the Christian God like your human Buddha. No comparison as the Christian God created all men alive.
Conventional? That depends on where you live. There are many countries where Christianity is a minority religion and other countries where Buddhism is the majority religion. Christianity was not 'conventional' in 50 AD, it was a minority religion found in a few parts of the Roman Empire in small numbers. Does that make early Christianity wrong? There were more pagans than Christians back then after all.
What I mean by coventential is the idea of humans worshipping and sacrificing to a divine deity rather than a human deity.

Buddhism overturned all these conventions in favour of what really amounts to gnosticism. I guess it was the world's first gnostic religion, but it is no less aberrant than every other gnostic religion of which there are many today. Even Christianity has been riddled with gnosticism (dualism, valentianism, manichaeism &etc) at times.

You need a better argument here.
I've given you one. What you know is less important in Christianity that the state of your heart towards God. Full enlightenment is reserved for the afterlife:

1 Cor 13:12-13 "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity."
 
You have no idea of the concept of God.
Which concept of God? There are many different concepts. The Jewish concept has not yet sent the Messiah. The Hindu concept is different again, as is the Buddhist concept.

You're fondly imagining him to be the equivalent of a human being. You see the Christian God like your human Buddha. No comparison as the Christian God created all men alive.
The Christian God is not a man, I agree, however He kills far too many people and He used to demand animal sacrifice. That changed for some reason, which is a small improvement. Buddhist morality does not follow a "might makes right" rule as the Abrahamic religions treatment of their God seems to do.

What I mean by coventential is the idea of humans worshipping and sacrificing to a divine deity rather than a human deity.
Buddhists can do that is they want, though animal sacrifices to their chosen god(s) are not allowed. Fruit, flowers and light are acceptable.

Buddhism overturned all these conventions in favour of what really amounts to gnosticism.
You have no idea of Buddhism.

I've given you one. What you know is less important in Christianity that the state of your heart towards God. Full enlightenment is reserved for the afterlife:
You are wrong. The Buddha attained full enlightenment at age 35. He died at age 80. You do not need to die to attain enlightenment. Enlightenment can be found here and now.
 
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