What Is Buddhism Essay - 1046 Words

What is Buddhism? nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Buddhism is a path of teaching and practice. Buddhist practices such as meditation are means of changing oneself in order to develop the qualities of awareness, kindness, and wisdom. The experience developed within the Buddhist tradition over thousands of years has created an incomparable resource for all those who wish to follow the path of spiritual development. Ultimately, the Buddhist path culminates in Enlightenment or Buddhahood. Who was the Buddha? nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The word Buddha is a title not a name. It means ‘one who is awake in the sense of having ‘woken up to reality. The title was first given to a man called Siddharta Guatemala, who lived about 2,500 years†¦show more content†¦How do you become a Buddhist? nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;To become a Buddhist in the full sense means committing oneself to the central ideas of Buddhism. The Buddhist path is open to all equally: men and women, young and old, people of all nationalities, races and backgrounds. Rebirth Rebirth in the Six Realms nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Buddhism teaches that birth, death and rebirth are part of the continuing process of change. The is similar to the continuous process of growth, decay, and replacement of cells in ones body. According to medical experts, after every seven years, all the cells in ones body are replaced by new ones. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;At the moment of death, and the body can no longer survive, the mind is separated from the body. At that time, the craving for lives causes one to seek a new existence, and the karma done previously determine the place of ones rebirth. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;There are six realms which one may be reborn after death. They are the realms of gods, the demigods, human beings, animals, hungry ghosts, and the hells. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;In general, wholesome actions like good conduct, charity, a and mental development, are the cause of rebirth in the happy realms of gods, demigods, and human beings. On the other hand, unwholesome actions like immoral conduct, miserliness and cruelty causeShow MoreRelatedBuddhism : What Is Buddhism? Essay1659 Words   |  7 PagesWhat is Buddhism ? Some may say it is a religion while others say it is a philosophy. Buddhism is many things. Buddhism was and still is to this day a religion practiced by many. Its teachings are kno wn worldwide. The founder and many of the teachings of Buddhism are the reason it is so significant still to this day. Suddhodana and Maya gave birth to a man by the name of Siddhatta Gotam or Shakyamuni who later would become the founder of Buddhism (Laumakis 7). He was a prince who lived a very privilegedRead MoreWhat Is Buddhism?1046 Words   |  5 PagesWhat is Buddhism? Buddhism is a path of teaching and practice. Buddhist practices such as meditation are means of changing oneself in order to develop the qualities of awareness, kindness, and wisdom. The experience developed within the Buddhist tradition over thousands of years has created an incomparable resource for all those who wish to follow the path of spiritual development. Ultimately, the Buddhist path culminates in Enlightenment or Buddhahood. Who was the Buddha? The word BuddhaRead MoreWhat Are the Beliefs and Values of Buddhism1848 Words   |  8 PagesWhat are the beliefs and values of Buddhism? Buddhists follow the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama who is known as the Buddha, meaning the enlightened one. Buddhism originated in northern India and is the fourth largest religion of the world. 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