The Philosophy Of Theravada Buddhism Essay - 2239 Words

Theravada Buddhism is known as the â€Å"representative school of the earliest of the branches of Buddhism†, as it is also known as â€Å"Hinayana or the small vehicle† (Young). Founded by Buddha, this branch of religion is extremely similar to Hinduism in the fact that it seeks to help people reach a state of liberation from the cycle of Earthly rebirth, but one major difference is that Buddhism â€Å"emerged from the Buddha s honest and penetrating assessment of the human condition† instead of focusing on the connection we as individuals form with our perceived ultimacy or higher, all powerful being like many other religions do (Bullitt). Even though the teachings of Buddha consist of several aspects from The Four Noble Truths, The Eightfold Path, to everything in the world around is impermanent, three of the most important teachings include: The concept of anatta, Buddha’s teaching that one must work out their own liberation, and The First Noble Truth D ukkha. Despite its grotesque nature and imagery, James McTeigue’s famous 2006 film, V for Vendetta, illustrates not only the importance of these concepts but illustrates how enlightenment is always possible no matter how dark one’s reality might be. Placed in the futuristic setting of Great Britain in which the dictator High Chancellor Adam Sutler rules with an iron fist, the film’s main protagonist V teams up with British Television Network employee, Evey Hammond, in order to battle and overthrow the tyrannical regime they have beenShow MoreRelatedThe Impact Of Theravada Buddhism On Myanmar1288 Words   |  6 PagesTheravada Buddhism is one of two major sects of Buddhism and is practiced primarily in Southeast Asia. Its practice began in Sri Lanka and spread to Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia, and has influence in the West today. In the eleventh century C.E., King Anawratha established The Myanmas kingdom, it was at this time that he converted to Theravada Buddhis m, despite a large Tantric Buddhist population in the kingdom. From then on, Myanmar has been known as a Theravada Buddhist country. As with most religionsRead MoreDifferences Of Theravada And Mahayana Buddhism1181 Words   |  5 Pages There are two major divisions of Buddhism. These two major divisions are Theravada Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism. Both of these divisions of Buddhism are similar but also different in some aspects. Theravada Buddhism is known as the traditions of the elders and Mahayana Buddhism is known as the expansive way. I will talk about three difference in Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism. There are also many little differences in both they will also be brought up in the describing the two divisions. OneRead MoreEssay about The Evolution of Buddhism 1182 Words   |  5 PagesBuddhism is a unique religion that bestows upon its members that their actions accumulate karma and too much bad karma leads to rebirth. A person reaches Nirvana (also known as heaven) when achieving enlightenment and is no longer subjected to rebirth. Buddhism also believes there is no one almighty god, but rather many gods, which they refer to as deities. Dharma is commonly known as the sacred teachings of a deity. The Buddha is only born in certain situations that members are in need of re-teachingRead MoreMahayana and Theravada Buddhism871 Words   |  4 PagesWhat are the basic differences between Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism? The Theravada Buddhist believed that they practiced the original teachings of Buddhism as it was handed down to them by Buddha. Theravada Buddhism corresponds fairly exactly with the teachings of Buddha. Theravada Buddhism is based on the Four Noble Truths and the idea that all physical reality is a chain of causation. This includes the cycle of birth and rebirth. Through the practice of Eightfold Noble Path and theRead MoreTheravada Buddhism and Escaping Rebirth Essay1192 Words   |  5 Pagessuperior setting with the higher power. Buddhism however, reaches enlightenment or also known as Nirvana by escaping the cycle of rebirth. Buddhism has been around as a religion for quite some time now an in today’s society it may seem too be viewed a bit different but still the main principles it was founded on still stand. Buddhism gets more in detail and specific if it is being observed to that extent, into three branches also known as vehicles. Theravada (the small vehicle) even called HinayanaRead MoreMahayana Vs. Theravada: A Multiform Comparison Essay1164 Words   |  5 PagesSignificant differences abound between the two principal schools of modern Buddhism, Mahayana and Theravada. Among the many distinctions that exist, a few could be considered especially integral to an understanding of how these mutually exclusive divisions contrast with each other. Before treating these specific dissimilarities, however, it must be established that the one, fundamental divergence between the sects, which could possibly be understood as resulting in the following earmarks that makeRead MoreA path to spiritual discovery903 Words   |  4 PagesAs Madhu Bazaz Wangu indicates, Buddhism is a path to spiritual discovery (8). Being Buddhism, a non-theistic religion, their disciples follow the monotheistic doctrine demonstrating they believe in only one deity. Siddhartha Gautama, mostly known as Buddha––the enlightened––, is the one deity Buddhists believe in. As Wangu writes, Siddhartha practiced severe self-denial and meditation before he could reach Nirvana (state o f mind that ends the path of suffering) (8). Siddhartha came to the conclusionRead MoreEssay on Budism by Huston Smith1605 Words   |  7 PagesBuddhism As a college student that has lived and grown up in western New York, I do not have too much experience with the other religions of the world. I have grown up a Christian Protestant my whole life, and I am a firm believer in my religion. Soon after reading the chapter on Buddhism in Huston Smith’s book The World’s Religions, I came to understand and respect the Buddhist religion. I came to learn who the Buddha as a man really was, and the steps he took in becoming a religious icon. IRead More Buddhism Essay1569 Words   |  7 PagesSoon after reading the chapter on Buddhism in Huston Smith’s book The World’s Religions, I came to understand and respect the Buddhist religion. I came to learn who the Buddha as a man really was, and the steps he took in becoming a religious icon. I know understand that Buddhism is not all meditation and relaxing. There is a strict code of the four noble truths and the prescription of getting through them called the eightfold path. Much like Christianity Buddhism also has many different views onRead MoreThe 4 Noble Truths And The Eightfold Path1478 Words   |  6 Pages Both initially originating in the Himalaya and written in Sanskrit, Buddhism and Hinduism are two of the main religions on the continent of Asia. Many believe that Buddhism first originated in Northern India in the 5th century B.C.E. when Siddhartha Guatama (the son of a king) rebelled against his father and went out into the world in hope of finding a way to end suffering . After trying many things, he eventually sat down beneath a bodhi tree to meditate. Supposedly by morning he was