Buddha and Buddhism

Type :

Term papers

Pages :

5 pages

Format :

.doc

Published date :

09/22/2009

Category :

Philosophy & literature

Sub category :

Humanities/philosophy

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Summary :

Introduction
An overview of the Buddhists texts
Some of the famous Buddha statues
Forms of Buddhism
1. Mahayana
2. Theravada
Buddhism in Tibet
Buddhism in China and Japan
Monasticism
Life as monk
Buddhists temples
Facts about Buddhism
Conclusion

Abstract

buddhism is the faith that has changed the lives of millions of people over the world. It all began in a small kingdom in North East India, in Sarkya. The founder of buddhism was the Prince Siddhartha Gautama, now called Lord buddha. buddha means 'enlightened one'. Siddhartha in his young age began a search for understanding the causes of sufferings. By the end of his life he not only earned the title buddha but had also earned many followers by then.
History tells us that Siddhartha was born while his mother Maya was on her way to visit her parents. She died soon afterward. Saints then informed his father that he would become a great ruler or a buddha. The thought that Siddhartha will leave the kingdom and become a holy beggar haunted his father. But eventually Siddhartha left the kingdom to search the true meaning of suffering.

When Siddhartha left the palace, the suffering he saw around him made him decide to become a holy man. He spent the next six years in spiritual learning and depriving himself of food and shelter. This eventually made him too weak for deep reflection, so he began to meditate below a tree and this is where he earned enlightenment. It is believed that when Siddhartha was meditating, a demon named Mara, sent his beautiful daughters to distract him from his chosen path.