Essay Paper on Buddhism
Buddhism evolved from the life of the Buddha. Many different types of practices, and beliefs grew from Buddha’s teachings and different scriptures. Buddhism led to a goal of reaching enlightenment or nirvana through meditation. Buddhism came from the realizations Buddha made through human sufferings and self-improvement. The different types of Buddhism spread across the world led to a common practice and belief among people.
Therevada was one of the first types of Buddhist practices. Therevada originated mainly in Thailand. Buddha is seen as a historical figure rather than a deity unlike other Buddhism sects. Therevada practices were rigid, believing in only their teachings. Therevada studied a large collection of scriptures and focused on monastic life. All monks were believed to most strongly represent Buddha’s teachings while following mindful meditation, self-control, kindness and intelligence.
Mahayana Buddhism was a more diverse interpretation of Buddha’s teachings. Mahayana focused on a more liberal form of Buddhism to enwrap different cultures using a variety of methods. The idea had been that Buddha “geared his teachings to an audience at different levels.” The Lotus Satra was the main scripture studied and focused on seeking enlightenment through the sake of helping others. Unlike Therevada Buddhism, Buddha was seen almost as a deity. Mahayana spread across China, Korea and Japan.
The variety in teaching and practices made Mahayana a more popular form of Buddhism, which spread, among different countries enabling people to perform different practices. Zen Buddhism like Therevada is more focused on certain practices and teachings. Also, like Mahayana, Zen absorbed different teachings, such as Taoism, as it spread across china to Japan. Zen mainly focuses on meditation. It fully disregards Buddhist scriptures and intellectual teaching unlike the other Buddhism sects. Zen enlightenment is based on direct experience and concentration such as Zazen, sitting meditation. Zen is the “training for direct intuition of cosmic unity” Concentration skills such as calligraphy enable Zen Buddhists to focus solely one aspect. The world should be seen as undistorted by society.
All different typed of Buddhism have their similarities and differences which enable Buddhist to focus on one path, depending on the type of Buddhism. All the practices and teachings focus on following what is believed to be closest t o Buddha’s teaching. Buddhism differs from one culture to the next just as humans differ; this is why Buddhism is focused on inner practices and teachings, guiding the individual to enlightenment.
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