Describe the basic beliefs of Buddhism
What will be an ideal response?
Buddhism first emerged in India some 2,500 years ago. Buddhism's founder Siddhartha Gautama was born about 563 B.C.E. into the privileged class. He had obtained Enlightenment—an awakening to the true nature of reality. Siddhartha was referred to as Buddha. Theravadin Buddhism, which focuses on the life of the Buddha and seeks to follow his teachings, gained its strongest toehold in Southeast Asia. Mahayana Buddhism is centered in Japan, China, and Korea and primarily focuses on meditation and the Four Noble Truths: (1) life is dukkha—physical and mental suffering, pain, or anguish that pervades all human existence? (2) the cause of life's suffering is rooted in tanha—grasping, craving, and coveting? (3) one can overcome tanha and be released into Ultimate Freedom in Perfect Existence (nirvana); and (4) overcoming desire can be accomplished through the Eightfold Path to Nirvana. This path is a way of living that avoids extremes of indulgence and suggests that a person can live in the world but not be worldly.
The path's eight steps are right view (proper belief), right intent (renouncing attachment to the world), right speech (not lying, slandering, or using abusive talk), right action (avoiding sexual indulgence), right livelihood (avoiding occupations that do not enhance spiritual advancement), right effort (preventing potential evil from arising), right mindfulness, and right concentration (overcoming sensuous appetites and evil desires). The third major branch of Buddhism, Vajrayana, incorporates the first two branches along with some aspects of Hinduism? it emerged in Tibet in the seventh century. Like Hinduism, the teachings of this type of Buddhism— and specifically those of the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan Buddhist leader—emphasize the doctrine of ahimsa, or nonharmfulness, and discourage violence and warfare. Today, Buddhism is one of the fastest-growing Eastern religions in the United States. Zen and Tibetan Buddhism are extremely popular forms.
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