Hinduism And Buddhism In Southeast Asia

In examining the evidence of the existence of Hinduism and Buddhism in Southeast Asia,

Indian culture, acceptance of this religion by the rulers and people in the area and in how

the Southeast adopted and adapted to this religion were accepted due to the impact these

religions had and the influence of Indian culture.

Buddhism originated in Southeast Asia from aspects of preexisting religions. It was founded

specifically in India by Siddhartha Gautama or the Buddha who lived in Northern India from 6th

to the mid-4th centuries. This philosophy played a social, spiritual and cultural life of Asia.

Buddhism took three major forms that include: Theravada, Hinayana (the Lesser Vehicle), and

Mahayana. For example, Theravada focuses on public worship, discourse and celebration.

Theravada means “the Way of the Elders” and emphasizes meditation, simplicity, and an

interpretation of nirvana as the renunciation of human consciousness and of self. In this form,

the Buddha isn’t considered a god and the other gods are of less importance. Whereas Mahayana

(the Greater Vehicle) rejected the belief that monks were allowed to attain salvation which was a

Theravada belief. This form is more complicated and involves a greater ritual than the one

Buddha specified. Mahayana attracted the people who believed that the original teachings of

Buddha did not offer enough spiritual comfort. Unlike Theravada, Mahayana sees the Buddha as

a godlike deity. Other deities like the bodhisattvas achieved nirvana, but choose to stay on earth.

This form also relied more on priests and scriptures. The Buddha and Bodhisattvas were the

ones viewed as the people who will help those struggling to reach salvation. Buddhists follow

the ...

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...rought an emergence of communism and resurgence of authoritarianism. But the

doctrine communist has no precedent in cultural traditions or sanction in current national

aspirations. The religions in communism well meeting the urgency of the problem in current

communist criticism and exploitation of religious personnel. These philosophies in Southeast

Asia are best described in the relation to the influx of communist doctrines.

To the rulers, when it reached in Southeast Asia, they took action immediately. Rulers supported

both religions and didn’t cause much dispute over it. They allowed it to have an influence on

their people and be incorporated the religions into arts, literature language and daily life in

general. The royalty in this region seem to have found advantages from it to show even

handedness in their support for these philosophies.