The Journey of Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion based on the teachings of Buddha which are referred to as “Dharma” or “the Dharma.” Those who practice Buddhism engage in a spiritual journey to attain a state of complete enlightenment known as Nirvana. Over time the Buddhist religion has evolved, fractured and adapted as it spread through Asia and eventually the globe. Today, there are three major sects of Buddhism and several lesser-known denominations of the religion.
Despite their differences, these variations of the Buddhist religion still share core principles. In each, the Buddha is considered the spiritual leader. The Four Noble Truths are core to their philosophies and teachings. Those who practice Buddhism follow the principles of the Eightfold Path and believe that Buddhahood is the highest possible state that one could achieve.
The Theravada or “doctrine of the Elders” was established around 300 BC.. This religion centered around the teachings of Buddha and encouraged it’s followers to teach the mind to eliminate suffering through the use of meditation with the ultimate goal of reaching Nirvana. Theravada Buddhism gave life to the Tripitaka, the Pali canon of Buddhist scriptures and the Ten Precepts which govern the lifestyle of Buddhist monks.
This discipline of Buddhism originated in India and migrated to southeast Asia into Sri Lanka, Thailand, Burma, Vietnam and other Asian countries. As this form of Buddhism was embraced by the indigenous people, the Theravada was altered to incorporate the religious beliefs of the various regions. this form of Buddhism is still popular in Sri Lanka, Laos and Cambodia today.
Mahayana, or Eastern Buddhism, expands the Pali Canon and includes other religious philosophies and texts that champion of belief in universal compassion and altruism. This is central to their belief in an “Awakened mind.” Practiced primarily in China, Korea and Japan, Mahayana Buddhism incorporates elements of cosmology and mysticism. This form of Buddhism has splintered into two variants. Zen Buddhism, which focuses more on internalization of the spiritual path and self-reliance and Pure Land Buddhism which teaches that dedication to the Amitabha Buddha is required to reach Nirvana.
Although deeply influenced by Mahayana Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism or Vajrayana is another distinct discipline of the Buddhist faith.. Also known as “tantric Buddhism,” Vajrayana melds the scriptures and text of both Mahayana and Theraveda Buddhism along with Buddhist Tantras. Vajrayana teaches that it is possible to achieve Buddhahood in a single lifetime without the journey of reincarnation.
The method in which one achieves enlightenment is the most significant difference between the various types of Buddhism. While all believe in the core principles of meditation and spiritual questing guided by the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, the attainment of Nirvana varies considerably.
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