Comparing Humanistic Buddhism And Engaged Buddhism

Buddhism is a religion born in India 563 B.C. with Siddhartha as there founder. the basic beliefs are the 4 noble truths (Dukkha, Samudaya, Nirodha, and Marga). Like document 6 says noble truth one (Dukkha) "birth is suffering, aging is suffering, illness is suffering etc." In noble truth four (Marga) says "right intention, right action, right effort ect." Which means if you are suffering in some type of way you stop it by doing something right.

During the sixth century, B.C.E. Buddhism commenced to spread into numerous areas around the world, but it was brought into China by the first century C.E. and the responses from the people were highly diverse. Numerous Chinese accepted the new belief that was brought in while others were scornful and thought of it as a belief of the barbarians. After the imperial structure was restored the popularity of Buddhism started to decline and numerous began to criticize the belief. Before the imperial restoration in 570 C.E. Buddhism was an acceptable religion within the borders of China, but after 570 C.E. the reputation of Buddhism began to diminish. However, as the times progressed it was difficult to follow the religion since there was great

Buddhism as barbaric, imperfect, and foreign while others saw it as beneficial and a path to an orderly society and eternal salvation. Document one shows how Buddhism spread from India to China, The fact the Buddhism was not native to China caused great distress to scholars like Han Yu who stated throughout document five how the Buddha did not follow Chinese customs. He went on to explain that “the Buddha was a man of the barbarians.” Also, in document three, Faixan travels to India to find out how to improve chinese Buddhism because he does not think that it has been perfected in China. On the contrary, scholars who supported Buddhism praised how it offered a path to salvation (Document 2) and some, like Zang Mi in document six, went as far as to compare it to Taoism and Confucianism, saying that “all three teachings lead to the creation of an orderly society and for this reason the must be observed with respect” among other things. Both sides created great argument that only strengthened the beliefs of the elite who opposed the philosophy and the lower class who rejected

As Buddhism spread from India to China at the beginning of the first century C.E., it was received with differing opinions ranging from advocating to discouraging its spread from opposing social classes within China, ranging from government officials, Buddhist scholars, and Confucian scholars.

The religion of Buddhism first appeared in India during the sixth century B.C.E and its teachings migrated to China by the first century C.E., gradually winning over the Chinese people following the collapse of the Han dynasty in 220 C.E. Buddhist influence continued its expansion in China for several centuries. Throughout Chinese history, China reacted to the spread of Buddhism within its empire in several ways: some valued its policies for their implications in Chinese culture, others condemned Buddhist ideals for not being original to the empire, while many remained indifferent towards Buddhism and its spread.

The introduction of Buddhism to China started off well, most openly accepted the foreign religion and it continued to thrive for centuries. Until the lack of an empire and laws plagued individuals minds. Other religions with a strong imperial structure, such as Confucianism, rose to support the growing number of negative minds. Buddhism was spread by Buddhist missionaries from India into China during the Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD). It was, at first, confined to only the higher status individuals, like aristocrats and Chinese royalty. Other religions such as Islam and Confucianism were flourishing around this time as well. Buddhism arriving in China resulted in various responses, some were positive and accepted the religion, but after a while

Religions have existed for millenniums, cultivation and sculpting the old world into what it is today. Each religion is unique in its own sense, meaning that each religion is its own mix, it’s own jam. Every one of these jams, or religions, have been spread across nations. Some jams are smooth like butter, finding easy acceptance and even easier assimilation, whereas some jams are chunky and laden with difficulties. Buddhism’s jam was one of interesting circumstance, containing a vary of smooth and chunky consistency. Ultimately, the response to the spread of Buddhism in China was mainly positive acceptance, but at certain times, negative.

Buddhist principles affected the societies in which it was present. It also introduced a culture of compassion into societies where survival depended on social status. It also changed the political constellations. Daoism has had great political and social influence. Daoism was in support of a more passive approach and a belief that the universe conducted itself according to its own flow. That the way to find peace was by allowing the natural things to happen and letting yourself to go along with them rather than trying to control the world to your own needs and desires. Confucianism, like Buddhism, is about following teachings rather than worshiping one god. The teachings claim that all humans are essentially good and this must be practiced toward all humans. Virtues and moral wisdom are essential components of a good person. Education and learning are also highly

As Siddhartha finally finds his enlightenment after a long years of searching, the historical Buddha’s also finds his enlightenment. After his negative experience with the self-denial of the world and the body, he suddenly comes to a realization that one must live life the way he or she is destined to live. He also believes that a teaching or religion can only help guide a person to the right path; but it is the person’s decision to find his or her own enlightenment on their own. “He did not force His followers to be slaves either to His teachings or to Himself, but granted complete freedom of thought and admonished His followers to accept His words not merely out of regard for Him but after subjecting them a thorough examination…”12 This set of teaching is compelling to me because the historical Buddha learns that one must live life their own way in order to find their own peace and happiness. If one lives a

The founder of the Buddhist, Siddhartha Gautama influences so many individuals with his doctrine. Many disciples came from all parts of the Ganges valley and became a community of monks who owned yellow robes and their begging bowls. Throughout northern India, the Buddha wanted to bring spiritual enlightenment to others as well as personal salvation. This meant an escape from the cycle of incarnation. “Early popularity of Buddhism was the organization of the Buddhist movement. From the days of the Buddha himself, the most enthusiastic and highly motivated converts joined monastic communities where they dedicated their lives to search for enlightenment and preaching Buddhist dharma to lay audiences.”(pg.126) The Mauryan dynasty reinforces the Buddhist movement. Ashoka found Buddhism as belief that could grant unity to his culturally various and far-flung realm.

In the essay, “ The Role of Religion in Modern Society”, Dalai Lama, The preeminent religious authority in Buddhism reveals the reason behind why religion has been a major source of conflict throughout the history, and how inter-religious harmony is the key to overcoming conflict of the first sort. He goes deeper into the similarities between different religion and identifies the obstacles that obstruct inter-religious harmony by developing ways to overcome them. He believes religion plays a vital role in the modern society by shaping the person's spiritual qualities rather than making him a better religious person than the other.

After reading this article, “Attitudes toward Women and the Feminine in Early Buddhism” by Alan Sponberg, I understand that the attitude toward women in the early Buddhism was deeply ambivalent. The Buddha himself belief that women are able to attain enlightenment, become an arhats, and liberated from the suffering. However, the Buddha was worried that bringing women in to the monastic order and ordaining them as a nun could hasten the decline of his teaching. This due to the fact that all of the monks are male and the female just a follower, who are not allow to ordain and stay with the monk. According to Sponberg, he said that there were four attitudes toward women in the early Buddhism. The first attitude is soteriological inclusiveness, this show that gender is not a factor important in attaining enlightenment in Buddhism. Any one and any sentient being can attain enlightenment. The second attitude is institutional

Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism each have their own ideal practitioners described in their teachings. These ideal practitioners provide a role-model and an ideal path for their followers. They also help followers and outsiders understand the important values of each tradition.

By 1975 the Vietnam war had claimed over 5 million lives, many of which were civilians. This has made it a war that Americans have been ashamed of and tried to forget. W. S. Merwin was outspoken on how he felt about war, which he shows in “The Asians Dying.” He makes a statement on the inhumane way the Vietnam war took human lives. ”The Asians Dying” will shock readers with its gruesome imagery and force them to look at what war does. Merwin uses the archetype of death to show the reader what the Vietnam war did to people, and how inhumane the Vietnam war was.

According to Wagner, humanistic approach is primarily a reaction to the two major views of humanity which are the Freudian perspective and the behavioral perspective thus humanitaristic approach is the “third force”.