The Foundations Of Buddhism By Rupert Gethin - 1417 Words

There are many different definitions and views of Buddhism and many of these views and definitions vary from each other. A quick internet search reveals all the different definitions of Buddhism and some of them may not even be correct or have a scholarly perspective. A five minute Google search reveals one definition which we will take a look at: †¦[T]he Buddhist path can be summed up as: (1) to lead a moral life, (2) to be mindful and aware of thoughts and actions, and (3) to develop wisdom and understanding.† Now while this definition may not be incorrect one could also say that it is not correct either, at least in the form of scholarly perspective. I will compare this definition found via Google and critique it to a more scholarly view of Buddhism. I will use examples from Rupert Gethin’s The Foundations of Buddhism, and compare certain aspects of Buddhism and compare it to the definition found via Google. I will give a brief overview of my points and compare it to an aspect of the Googled definition. One thing to take note of is that some aspects that I will be taking about can be applied to the Google Definition in different and various ways. For example, I could compare attachment found in Buddhism to the different aspects of the Googled definition in different ways or it could be seen as a unifying t heme. The first point in the Googled definition about â€Å"leading a moral life† is not entirely incorrect nor is it correct either. While â€Å"leading a moral life†Show MoreRelatedBuddhism And The Human Condition1289 Words   |  6 Pagesinsightful and irrefutable fact of life. The human race’s continuous inability to grasp the concept of life as suffering has led to the erroneous and often western misconception that Buddhism is an inherently cynical religion. This ethnocentric line of criticism, however, ignores the rewarding and deeply spiritual facets of Buddhism that attempt to enrich one’s life by mitigating dukkha. The Buddha’s Four Noble Truths reflects this understanding, and serves to remind adherents that life is suffering and thatRead MoreTannisho: Master of Shin Buddhism1195 Words   |  5 PagesThe Tannisho are the teachings of Shinran, Master of Shin Buddhism, which is a form of Shingon or Esoteric Buddhism. Shin Shingon Buddhis m is also known as Pure Land Buddhism. This school of thought, therefore, comes out of the Mahayana tradition. It holds that the Dharma has become too corrupt to lead anyone on Earth to nirvana. Instead, there are â€Å"Buddha fields† (Gethin, 263) that one can be reborn into and obtain freedom from samsara through nirvana there. Through the Tannisho Shinran explainsRead MoreHow Buddhism Has Changed Essay1643 Words   |  7 PagesHow Buddhism Has Changed Albert Einstein once said, â€Å"Buddhism has the characteristics of what would be expected in a cosmic religion for the future: it transcends a personal God, avoids dogmas and theology; it covers both the natural spiritual, and it is based on a religious sense aspiring from the experience of all things, natural and spiritual, as a meaningful unity.† I though this quote was an interesting beginning into seeing how this ancient religion changed over the course of its existence