Introduction To Buddhism
For two and a half thousand years, people have followed religion
based on the teachings of a man they call the Buddha, meaning the
Enlightened One.
The starting point in Buddhism is mankind and the way in which
they suffer not just physical pain, but the general feelings of
dissatisfaction with life, the craving to achieve or have
something more, the fear of change and death. It seeks to give
a person peace of mind and to encourage and develop loving
compassion towards all living beings.
Buddhism is not a dogmatic religion in the same sense that it
doesn't require a person to accept fixed beliefs and ideas.
It doesn't concern itself by debating whether or not there is a
God. It regards all such beliefs as secondary importance. The
main thing is to help people overcome suffering and to achieve
a full life.
The goal of Buddhist religion is enlightenment, which means to
be fully awake to the reality of life, to have an understanding
of why there is suffering in the world and how it may be
overcome. Buddhists claim that in the teaching of the Buddha
they find a path which eventually lead them to achieve this
enlightenment for themselves.
There is a great variety within Buddhism. There are two main
branches of the religion - Theravada or Hinayana in the south
and Mahayana Buddhism in the north. Nevertheless, there is a
common basis to all Buddhism expressed in what is called the
Triple Jewel (Tri Ratna) - the Buddha, the Dharma (teaching)
and the Sangha (community of monks).
Hinayana Buddhism
Difference of opinions and arguments arising from time to time
caused the formation of new sects. Finally there arose two sects
of thought which are known as Hinayana and Mahayana.
The Hinayana adhered more to the concept of four noble truths
and eightfold paths which were primarily a philosophy with rules
of conducts and ethics. For them the worship of deities was
secondary. The conception of nirvana was the freedom from the
cycle of rebirth.
Hinayana got its name because this doctrine is meant for the
individual salvation where each person has to work out his own
destiny. Comparatively, few are able by their own efforts to
obtain emancipation and achieve nirvana. Hinayana Buddhism is
also called Theravada Buddhism.
Mahayana Buddhism
Early Buddhism stressed that the goal of each individual was to
seek freedom from the chain of rebirth and thus from all
sufferings and death. The word used to describe this goal was
nirvana. Although there were many different philosophical
schools, the religion centered around the institution of the
monastery. The rituals were simple and minimum. Meditation and
introspection were encouraged. Each individual sought his own
nirvana. Where as in Mahayana Buddhism, the concept of
Boddhisatva, the being who desired highest enlightenment for the
welfare of others and the practice of Six Paramita (Dana, Sila,
Kshanti, Birya, Dhyana, Prajna) is emphasized. The function of
the Boddhisatva was to postpone his own final leap into
nirvana and to reamin in the round as long as a single sentient
being remained undelivered from suffering. This form of Buddhism
came to be known as Mahayana (the great way) or the
Boddhistayana.
The goal of Mahayana is to attain Buddhahood. The method of
attaining was modified. Buddhism changed through Mahayana into
an altruistic faith oriented system in which in addition to
medatative practices, devotion to a Boddhisatwa was regarded
as an equally valid way to reach Buddhahood. The goal was now
characterized as the state of Tatatha, emptiness and nonduality.
Vajrayana Buddhism
Mahayan which is dominated by mantras is known as Mantrayana,
Tantrayana or Vajrayana. It is characterized as the path which
leads to perfect enlightenment. Vajrayana literally means the
adamantine path or vehicle, but its technical meaning is the
"Sunya Vehicle" where Sunya is used in a special sense to
represent vajra. Vajra also means "Thunderbolt" or "Diamond"
and Yana means "Path, Way or Vehicle".
Vajra, connoting diamond, was chosen as the name of the Tantric
Buddhist tradition because of the diamond's indestructibility
as well as of its physical ability to cut through all substances.
Vajrayana constitutes the last major stage in the development of
Buddhism.
Vajrayana Buddhism accepts all assumptions of Mahayana, but
expands and collaborates them further adding a few of its own.
The goal is now characterized as Boddhi Nature (the matrix of
enlightenment). Every sentient being is a potential Buddha, but
he or she is unaware of it because of the dense fog of
ignorance that clouds the mind. The fog is said to be discursive
thought, which discriminates and polarizes all concepts. Once
it is moved, Boddhi Nature will emerge like a clear light. This
state of reality is achieved by combining "Prajna" (knowledge,
wisdom or insight) with "Upaya" (means or fitness of action
which is the same as karuna or compassion). Thus, both
literally and figuratively, Vajrayana is the belief in the twin
principles of insight and compassion and in their "Sahaja"
(co-emergence) which leads one to the state of Mahasukha (great
bliss).
Hinduism
Hinduism is a multi disciplinary religion called Sanatana
Dharma, based on writings and experiences of age old sages. They
assert the view that a permanent, partless, independent self
does exist.
There are endless divisions of Hindu systems however, they are
widely known to consist of six fundamental schools, Vaiseika,
Naiyayika, Samkhya, Mimamsaka, Nirgrantha, and Lokayat (Carvaka).
The first five of these hold views of eternalism (Sasvatavada)
and the last holds view of nihilism (Echchedavada).
Hinduism also advocates different ethical systems and mediation
systems. By practicing these systems one can take rebirth in
Brahma realm.
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