Buddhism: The Foundation, Development and Beliefs

Though the opposite divisions of Buddhism have altered their executes to accommodate the needs of a wider range of pile, Theravada has remained almost the same as it was at its put ining. Theravada Buddhism is the original and most popular forge of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar. Theravada remains closest to the original teachings of the split up of Buddhism, Siddhartha Gautama. Siddhartha Gautama is the original founder of all forms of Buddhism. He was born in present day Nepal nigh 563 B. C. E. He was a prince of the Shakyas clan, and likely heir to his fathers throne.He was named Siddhartha which promoter he who has attained his goals. Being the prince of the warrior caste, he trained in the pityingistic discipline of war and grew up to be a strong and hand near unexampled man. When he was at the age of sixteen, he fought and defeated his competitors in a variety of sports, which won him the hand of the beautiful princess Yashodhara, who was besides sixteen long condemnation anile at the m. He continued living in the sumptuosity of his palaces. Soon, however, he grew restless and began to wonder what happens outside the palace. He even outtually insisted to be permitted to come out of the palace so he can meet his people and his lands.For fear of the prince leading a religious sp payliness, the king uniform that exclusively young and healthy people should greet the prince so that he get out non touch the kind of wretched. However, even with the kings careful orders, he still caught sight of a couple of old men, who accidentally wandered near the parade route, at Kapilavatthu, the capital. Curious of who these people were, he chased after them. He then(prenominal) came to a place where many people are desperately ill and even came across a funeral ceremony by the side of the river, oerhearing death for the first time in his life.Siddhartha saw four sights a sick man, a myopic man, a beggar, and a cor pse. When he caught sight of these, his heart soon form with considerable loneliness for the suffering that humanity has to go through. He then asked his friend and squire Chandaka what those things meant. Chandaka told him that all of us grow old, sick and eventually, die, axiom that these truths should have been told to him before. (Boeree, 1999). He said upon seeing these realities When ignorant people see someone who is old, they are disgusted and horrified, even though they similarly depart be old some day. I opinion to myself I mountt want to be like the ignorant people. after(prenominal) that, I couldnt feel the usual intoxication with youth anymore. When ignorant people see someone who is sick, they are disgusted and horrified, even though they too will be sick some day. I thought to myself I striket want to be like the ignorant people. After that, I couldnt feel the usual intoxication with health anymore. When ignorant people see someone who is dead, they are disgu sted and horrified, even though they too will be dead some day. I thought to myself I dont want to be like the ignorant people. After than, I couldnt feel the usual intoxication with life anymore. (AN III.39, interpreted) (Boeree, 1999) He overly saw an ascetic or a monastic who has neglectful all the pleasures and cravings of the flesh. What struck Siddhartha the most is the peaceful expression on the monks face, which left a deep impression on him. termination back to the palace after this and despite having what appeared to be the perfect life of luxury, Siddhartha became very discontent with the material world and decided to leave his family. He realized that he could no longer live happy with the thought that, even with all their luxury, there would still come a time that he will suffer and die.With these thoughts, he soon wondered what he whitethorn do so that he can overcome suffering, more than anything else. He left his privileged life as a prince and ran away to the w oodland in search of spiritual understanding. For a while, he studied with twain well-known gurus of that time but soon found that their practice is not enough to answer his question. That was when he began to follow the practices of a group of quin ascetics austerities and penances. For six long time, he practiced with utmost sincerity and intensity that the louversome ascetics became his followers before long. However, he still did not find the answers he was looking for.He decided to double his efforts by refusing food and water until he was in a state of near death. One day, Sujata, a nestling girl saw this starving monk. She took pity on him and offered him to eat some of her milk-rice. Soon, he realized that self-mortification still do not attend him answer his questions. He decided to carry out a practice that will be middle way between the perfects of luxurious and self-mortification life. For many days, Siddhartha sat beneath a particular fig tree, called the bodhi tree, in the town of Bodh Gaya, vowing that he will never stand up until he found the answers to the problem of suffering.At first, he deeply concentrated in clearing his mind from all distractions, and later on, in mindless meditation. They said that he started to recall all his previous lives, and see everything that was going on in the entire universe. He became the Buddha, meaning he who is awake, with the rising of the morning time star on the full moon of May, when he finally found the answers he was looking for (Hooker, 1996). He spent the next forty five years teaching early(a)s about the path to enlightenment. After an exhaustive ministry he died around 483 B. C. E. During his life, none of Siddhartha Gautamas teachings were ever written down.During the following 100 years after his death, Buddhism spread throughout India and Sri Lanka. A group of Buddhist monks held a council in the Capital city of Patna, during the ternary century B. C. E. , to come to a consensus on w hat the original teachings of Siddhartha were. When the council came to agreement about Siddharthas true original teachings, the teachings became the article of faith of Theravada Buddhism. Theravada Buddhism has not deviated from this doctrine since. Theravada Buddhisms main goal is for the individual practitioner to pass water Nirvana.This is accomplished by realizing the very foundation of Buddhism which was the quaternary Noble Truths The Four Noble Truths 1. ) All human life is suffering (dhukka ). 2. ) All suffering is caused by human desire, particularly the desire that impermanent things be permanent. 3. ) human being suffering can be ended by ending human desire. 4. ) Desire can be ended by following the eightfold Noble Path office understanding, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration (Bullitt, 2005).The practitioner must also follow the Eight Fold Path 1. ) right view, 2. ) right resolve, 3. ) right speech, 4. ) right action, 5. ) right livelihood, 6. ) right effort, 7. ) right mindfulness, and 8. ) right concentration. The council all also agreed in practicing the Four Cardinal virtues which were friendliness, compassion, joy, and equanimity. During the onset of Buddhism, the religion comprised of only very few followers making it relatively insignificant among the vast variety of Hindu sects.But when Asoka, the great Mauryan emperor converted to Buddhism in the third century BC, the young and insignificant religion soon spread lavishly throughout India and was carried across the Indian Ocean to Sri Lanka. respectable like rumors change as they are spread from person to person, Buddhism was slightly altered over time. The original form Theravada Buddhism, held its ground in Sri Lanka as the Buddhists of Sri Lanka maintained a form that was most similar to the original form of Siddharthas teachings. On the other hand, the rest of India, then the world in general la ter on, Buddhism fragmented into a million sects and versions.Theravada Buddhism requires intensive meditation. To follow his form of Buddhism requires the practitioner to founder a lifetime to its practice, thus making it difficult or even imposable for the average modern person to commit to such an undertaking. Despite the extreme demands of Theravada Buddhism, it is gaining popularity in Singapore, Australia as well as other parts of the westerly world. There are over 100 million Theravada Buddhists worldwide. Theravada has had less conquest spreading than other forms of Buddhism.Forms of Buddhism such as Zen are some(prenominal) more user friendly and are less demanding. Theravada Buddhism might not be the most popular, but it remains true to teachings of the genius who founded the religion. Just as well, Buddhism is in fact, a way of life. References Boeree, D. C. G. (1999). The Life of Siddhartha Gautama. Retrieved February 21, 2007, from http//webspace. ship. edu/cgboer/ siddhartha. html Bullitt, J. (2005). What is Theravada Buddhism? Hooker, R. (1996). The diachronic Siddhartha Electronic Version. Retrieved February 21, 2007 from http//www. wsu. edu/dee/BUDDHISM/SIDD. HTM.