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Comparisons with Taoism and Confucianism
Comparisons with Taoism and Confucianism
Religion in southwest asia
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It is well known that the religions of Asia have spread across the continent and lingered within the culture of the land and the minds of their people. It can be seen how Taoist, Confucius, Hindu, and Buddhist thought have influenced Asia and its people. Buddhism especially has had a profound effect on the Asian world and even its close neighbors in the Middle East. Statues of the grandeur yet modest Buddha can been observed all over the continent. The Longmen Grottoes, the site of the Vairocana Buddha, is one example of a giant Buddha statue that has been erected in worship. Buddha statues were erected north of modern Afghanistan, north of Kabul, a place thought untouched by Buddhism. Unfortunately for that Afghanistan Buddha statue, it was destroyed by the Taliban in 2001. These sites show the true expanding powers of Buddhism across Asia. Buddhism at its creation was enormously influenced by Hinduism. Using similar terminology and symbols, examples dharma and the use of the swastika. They both believe in detachment from worldly things. Both religions also encourage the use of yoga as key part of worship and clearing one’s mind. Buddhism is its own …show more content…
Japan having their own belief, which has survived since the birth of japan itself, found it easy to adopt the teachings of Buddhism. This is one of the best examples and longstanding of Buddhist syncretism. BBC gives a brief description of the Shinto belief and practice, “The essence of Shinto is the Japanese devotion to invisible spiritual beings and powers called kami, to shrines, and to various rituals.” Shinto was really able to adapt Buddhism due to Shinto’s un-cemented or uninterested concern for explaining the world and themselves in relation to creation. Devoting oneself to communicating to Kami or spirits doesn’t take focus for worship. The Japanese found Buddhism as an addition to their belief system instead of a separate
Both of these religions originated in India. Buddhists and Hindus believe that death is not final. They believe that a person comes back after he or she dies. This process is known as reincarnation, and it provides opportunities for people to enter the world multiple times in different forms. Buddhists and Hindus want to reenter the world as humans, and they want to improve their status through reincarnation.
Hinduism and Buddhism have different similarities and are in some ways connected to each other. Some of the practices of the two religions are similar in various ways and there are several examples to show this.
Compare And Analysis The Japanese Buddhism And Indo Buddhism Buddhism is a religion and philosophy founded by Siddhartha Gautama in northeast India during the period from the late 6th century to the early 4th century BC. Spreading from India to Central and Southeast Asia, China, Korea, and Japan, Buddhism has played an influential role in the spiritual, cultural, and social life of much of the Eastern world. It is the prevailing religious force in most of Asia (India, China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and Tibet). ‘Buddhism’ is reformulated and re-expressed in different cultures and at different times, adopting and redefining aspects of the cultures in which it has taken root. Today, there are about 300 million followers. (Yamplosky) The Indian religion Buddhism, founded in the sixth century BC, is one of the common features of Asian civilization, and Buddhist institutions and believers are found all over East, South, and Southeast Asia. While Buddhism is now just a minority belief in the country of it’s founding, it remains a significant religious and cultural force in Japan today. Buddhism started in India and made its way to China and Korea. From there, it ended up in Japan. Buddhism went through several different periods before it became Japan's national religion. In indo Buddhism, the temple is the main sanctuary, in which services, both public and private, are performed but Japanese Buddhism is mainly hub of individual activities and services. Similarly to Japanese Buddhism, in Indo Buddhism the monastery is a complex of buildings, located usually in a spot chosen for its beauty and seclusion. Its function is to house the activities of the monks. Images are important features of temples, monasteries, and shrines in both Indo a...
Both these religions have basic beliefs that are relatively different from each other. Buddhists on one hand believe in karma, rebirth, dharma and moksa. Karma is "cause, effect and the law which equilibrates the two" . It is the consequences of every action, whether good or bad. This action-reaction may take effect anytime, may be in the current life or not. Rebirth is inter-connected with karma. If one did more good things than bad in his life, his karma will lead him to a life of better condition than the previous one. Dharma is the basic concept of the religion; that is the Buddhist teaching, also meaning the nature of existence. Lastly, moksa refers to the renunciation of the world, which is parallel to the Hindu belief in the importance of asceticism and meditation .
Bamiyan Buddha’s were monumental statues of a standing Buddha, carved into the side of a cliff in the Bamwam valley in Afghanistan, back in the 6th century. The Taliban destroyed these statues in 2001. Their destruction was justified as being a way to protest against the international aid exclusively reserved for the maintenance of the statues, while Afghanistan was going through a famine. This action was condemned by Japan along with many other countries that pledged support for rebuilding the statues. (http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/23/world/asia)
What first comes to attention is the relationship between Hinduism and Buddhism. In many aspects it can be compared to that of the relationship of Christianity and Judaism. Some believe and accept that Buddhism became popular in India due to his teachings giving some aspiration to those who were being oppressed by the caste system that subjugated society of that time period. In the eyes of the Hindus, it was accepted that Buddha was seen as another life of one of their prominent gods, Vishnu, who was seen as the provider, giver, and preserver of the Hindu people. But disagreement between the followers of Buddha and followers of the Hindu god, Shiva, who was seen as the destroyer of things to renew and regenerate the world and spirit and also the male and female aspect of God, arose even in ancient times. Despite some disagreement of beliefs, both religions influenced each other as well as have similarities and differences that make each unique. Firstly, both religions believe in the concept o...
This video lecture course is about Buddhism and how it is valid in the terms of modern psychology, hence the name Buddhism and Modern Psychology. In this essay, I will answer two questions pertaining to the topic of how Buddhism in the eyes of psychology is valid. The questions have been chosen out of a list and they are the ones that I felt were most relevant to the topic.
Hinduism and Buddhism There are many religions that are practiced around the world, especially in Asia where there are eight different religions being practiced. In the country of India, Buddhism and Hinduism are the main religions that are practiced today. Buddhism and Hinduism were both founded in Asia, but they were founded by two different people and practiced in two different ways and languages. Buddhism is a living tradition that is passed down from teacher to student as a set of instruction and techniques for sanity and brilliance in the inner self and the world. Hinduism is more based on the thoughts and attitude about one’s everyday life, and reflects in his actions.
Buddhism prevailed as a religion indigenous to west India and comprises of varieties of traditions, beliefs and practices based on the teachings of Buddha. There are many reasons why Buddhism became so popular and entered into many civilizations. Buddhism began to be popular throughout Asia alongside India. Buddhism has blossomed in the contemporary world, especially in the West. It is an issue to wonder what Buddhism offers that other religions cannot and has become so significant worldwide. Buddhism has become an idea that is widespread and the teachings of Buddha have made a real difference in many civilizations like India, China, Japan, Vietnam, Korea and surprisingly Buddhism has come to make a significant difference in American culture.
Religious syncretism is a blending of two or more religious beliefs or practices into a new system, or the merging into a new religious tradition of beliefs from different traditions. This can occur for many reasons, but happens quite frequently in areas where multiple religions exist nearby to each other and are active in the culture. When a culture is conquered, the conquerors bring their religious beliefs with them, but do not succeed in entirely wiping out the old beliefs or practices as they are too engrained. Certain religious followers see syncretism as a betrayal of their pure truth. They feel by adding an incompatible belief ruins and changes the original concept and practice of the original religion, thus rendering it no longer true.
Hinduism is the 3rd most popular religion in the world followed by Buddhism, together they are followed by 22 percent of the world’s population. These two religions are alike in many ways, and are tied together by Asia, where they have deep roots in its culture and history. Although Hinduism and Buddhism are similar in many ways, very important and large differences separate the two. No one and nothing can ever truly prove either religion is better than the other because that is up to personal beliefs and opinions, but many more people around the world prefer Buddhism over Hinduism because of its beliefs and practices.
As previously mentioned, “Buddhism, Shinto, and “new” religions are practiced in every part of Japan, as well as in overseas communities.” (A Concise Introduction to Religion, p.545) Buddhism and Shinto work together, influencing one another, making it difficult to understand one religion without having an understanding of the other. It is important to understand, that religion doesn’t play a big role in every day life in Japan. Following more modern rituals is something that Japanese people have become a custom too.
Buddhism is a religion that seems to have taken over in this modern day and age of society. The religion has caught on and has become extremely popular around the world, spreading like wildfire; however, it was not always been this way. Buddhism is a religion that is based off of peace and spirituality taught by the teachings of Buddha. Many who follow the teachings believe Buddhism to be more of a way of life or lifestyle choice rather a religion in itself.
In fact, it was said to be more simplified and more accessible than Hinduism. The basic beliefs of Buddhism is that to experience life is to experience suffering caused by the desire for individual fulfillment and the investment in your ego. To release yourself from this life, you must live a modest life where you learn not to desire anything combined with meditation practice. Buddhism had the Four Noble Truths which explained the reasons for human suffering which said that life is full of suffering, the cause of suffering came from desire and a negative mindset, that letting go of desire would release you of suffering, and that to rid yourself of pain you must follow the Eightfold Path.
Buddhism is a major global religion with a complex history and system of beliefs. In Buddhism, there are many different believes and practices. Having practices in the right way is important in Buddhism but it is more important to focus on the correct understanding of human nature and ultimate reality.