Essays on Buddhism Page 2

Introduction             The word monk is a Greek term that means someone or something who is unaccompanied (Gill, n.d.). In the Greek world, monk came to represent a self-controlled individual who lives in solitude from the rest of the world. Although living by themselves, commonly the monks would congregate in the same vicinity. A monk…

The Buddha’s most dedicated followers were grouped into a sangha, distinguished by their shaved heads and robes crafted from unsewn orange fabric. These early Buddhist monks, also known as bhikkus, traveled from location to location, only establishing themselves in communities during the rainy season when journeying was challenging. Theravadan monks and nuns rely on offerings…

the world, as its teaching can coexist with any other religion. Other religions, on the other hand, do not possess this characteristic and cannot accommodate Buddhism at the same time. The Buddhist teaching of God is neither agnostic nor vague, but clear and logical. Buddhism began this way: Siddhartha Gautama was born in the sixth…

Since the beginning of civilization, mythology and religion have existed as an explanation to the unexplainable. The Nez Perce tale, Coyote Finishes His Work , talks about the spirit, Coyote, and his work on earth up to the point where he met the Great Spirit. The works of Coyote, and the message left behind by…

Dale MillerThe river in this piece of writing can symbolize many different ideals and represents many thoughts of Buddhism. In a sense, the river represents on a larger scale the life Siddhartha should lead; one of calmness and peace while having ever-changing effects on the things and people he comes in contact with. His learning…

Buddhism as a way of life calls for people to leave the “ordinary” and become extraordinary” persons promoting and working towards a state of enlightenment or nirvana. Compassion is a virtue that differentiates each human being from the other with a demonstrated awareness of suffering. This is the reason why Buddhism has designated compassion as…

Buddhism is distinguished by its extraordinary tolerance and capacity to peacefully coexist with other religions, a quality that is uncommon in most other faiths. What makes Buddhism unique is its precise and logical interpretation of the concept of God, which sets it apart from being agnostic or unclear. Siddhartha Gautama, who was born in the…

Ethics are a set of guidelines that help explain what it is to be fully human as well as give meaning and direction to adherent’s lives. According to Buddhist teachings, the ethical and moral principles are governed by examining whether a certain action, whether connected to body or speech is likely to be harmful to…

Its fundamental teaching is that the Buddha who, through his enlightenment, showed the way out of the wheel Of rebirth or conditioned reality created by inorganic and attachment; its fundamental sociological expression is the samara, or order of monks in the succession of the Buddha disciples. The Buddha, among the first of the great religious…

The Zen Koan is a puzzle, whether written or verbal, that is utilized in Buddhism to guide the student towards satori or enlightenment. As stated by D T Suzuki in the book “An Introduction To Zen Buddhism,” the term Koan now encompasses various elements such as anecdotes of ancient masters, dialogues between masters and monks,…