Buddhism in the West Essay - 1135 Words

Albert Einstein once said, â€Å"the religion of the future will be a cosmic religion. It should transcend a personal god, avoid dogmas and theology. Covering both the natural and spiritual, it should be based on a religious sense arising from the experience of all natural and spiritual and a meaningful unity. Buddhism answers this description. If there is any religion that would cope with modern scientific needs it would be Buddhism.†# Many great minds like Albert Einstein have converted or become Buddhists. Many people from the west are turning their attention towards Buddhism because of the Buddha’s simple way to life and the lack of worship or prayer to a divine being. Buddhism has a fascinating history. Like most religions, you must†¦show more content†¦In 483 B.C. at the age of 80 Siddhartha Gautama (â€Å"The Buddha†) died of food poisoning#. The Buddha went in between to extremes to find the middle way. The middle way consists of the four noble t ruths and the eightfold path. The four noble truths are the most commonly shared belief between Buddhists. They are ways to eliminate desire, which will eliminate suffering. Number one says, â€Å" life consists of suffering.† Number two says, â€Å"everything is impermanent and ever-changing, we suffer because we desire those things that are impermanent.† Number three says, â€Å" the way to liberate oneself from suffering is to eliminate desire.† And number four says, â€Å" desire can be eliminated by following the eightfold path.† The eightfold path is a group of statements, they are not sequential things, they are just attitudes and actions. The eightfold path consists of right understanding, right thought, right speech, right action, right live hood, right effort, right awareness and right meditation. By following these attitudes and actions, you can achieve a life without suffering#. Many people like the fact that Buddhism has a simple way to life but one of the most appealing things about Buddhism is the lack of a divine being. Buddhism does have a founder but its doesn’t have a god or divine being. Buddhism doesn’t offer forgiveness for peoples sins, they don’t believe in sin. There is no heavenly hope. And there is no final judgment meaning thereShow MoreRelatedA Shifting Image of Buddhism in America Essay1206 Words   |  5 Pagesthe vibrant color of the monk’s robe were still familiar, but what was being said was (very) foreign to me. I quickly became impatient and preoccupied with the question on why I was there in the first place. What would I write about for my final Buddhism assignment if I could not understand what was being said? One thing was clear, the day I visited, they were celebrating Buddha’s birthday with huge display of rituals and ceremony, and a big birthday cake at the end. Although some aspects of theRead MoreBuddhism, Religion, And Religion1155 Words   |  5 PagesMany wars have been fought based on religion. Countless Disputes, debates, and lives. But, there is one religion that doesn t concern wars, or even violence. Buddhism. The question buddhism, is it a religion a philosophy has been raised so many times before, Indeed, Buddhism can be seen within an open secret of the past two decades, in which it s played no small part: namely, more and more people are finding personal connection to the sacred, lifted up out of and beyond the Sunday pews, madeRead MoreThe Influence of Buddhism in Chinese Martial Arts Essay777 Words   |  4 PagesGutowski 1 BrandonGutowski Carrie Morris Narration of Asia 30 January 2012 The Influence of Buddhism In Chinese Martial Arts Since first introduced During the Han Dynasty, Buddhism has played a major role in Chinese art and culture. 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