Buddhism

Gethin (1998), pp. 1-2, identifies "three broad traditions" as: (1) "The Theravāda tradition of Sri Lanka and South-East Asia, also sometimes referred to as 'southern' Buddhism"; (2) "The East Asian tradition of China, Korea, Japan, and Vietnam, also sometimes referred to as 'eastern' Buddhism"; and, (3) "The Tibetan tradition, also sometimes referred to as 'northern' Buddhism."

Robinson & Johnson (1982) divide their book into two parts: Part One is entitled "The Buddhism of South Asia" (which pertains to Early Buddhism in India); and, Part Two is entitled "The Development of Buddhism Outside of India" with chapters on "The Buddhism of Southeast Asia," "Buddhism in the Tibetan Culture Area," "East Asian Buddhism" and "Buddhism Comes West." divides present-day adherents into the following three traditions or geographical or cultural areas: Theravada , ''' East Asian Buddhism ''' and ''' Tibetan Buddhism '''.

An alternative scheme used by some scholarsSmith, ''Buddhism''; Juergensmeyer, ''Oxford Handbook''. In addition, Gethin, ''Foundations'', pp. 1-5, ''could'' be used to support the use of this bipartite classification scheme to the degree that he identifies that both East Asian Buddhism and Tibetan Buddhism have a "general outlook" of the Mahāyāna tradition, although Tibetan Buddhism's "specific orientation" is Tantric Buddhism . has two divisions, Theravada and Mahayana . In this classification, Mahayana includes both East Asian and Tibetan Buddhism. This scheme is the one ordinarily used in the English language.¹
Some scholarsSee e.g. the multi-dimensional classification in ''Encyclopedia of Religion'', Macmillan, New York, 1987, volume 2, pages 440ff use other schemes. Buddhists themselves have a variety of other schemes.


Buddhism Today


Indian Buddhism had become virtually extinct, but is now again gaining strength. Buddhism continues to attract followers around the world and is considered a Major World Religion . While estimates of the number of Buddhist followers range from 230 to 500 million worldwide, most estimates are around 350 million,² or 310 million.³ However, Estimates are uncertain for several countries. According to one analysis,⁴ Buddhism is the fifth-largest religion in the world behind Christianity , Islam , Hinduism , and Traditional Chinese Religion . The monks' order ( Sangha ), which began during the lifetime of the Buddha in India, is among the oldest organizations on earth.


DOCTRINE

In Buddhism, any person who has awakened from the "sleep of ignorance" (by directly realizing the true nature of reality), without instruction, and teaches it to others is called a . Siddhartha Gautama , the Buddha, is thus only one among other buddhas before or after him. His teachings are oriented toward the attainment of this kind of awakening, also called Liberation , or Nirvana .

Part of the Buddha’s teachings regarding the holy life and the goal of liberation is constituted by the "The Four Noble Truths" , which focus on Dukkha , a term that refers to Suffering or the unhappiness ultimately characteristic of unawakened, worldly life. The Four Noble Truths regarding suffering state what is its nature, its cause, its cessation, and the way leading to its cessation. This way to the cessation of suffering is called "The Noble Eightfold Path" , which is one of the fundamentals of Buddhist Virtuous or Moral life.

Numerous distinct groups have developed since the passing of the Buddha, with diverse teachings that vary widely in practice, philosophical emphasis, and culture. However, there are certain doctrines that are common to the majority of schools and traditions in Buddhism, though only Theravada regards all of them as central. Few valid generalizations are possible about all Buddhists.⁵


Bodhi

, Gandhara , northern Pakistan .]]
See Also: Bodhi


Bodhi ( Pāli and Sanskrit बॊधि, lit. ''awakening'') is a term applied in Buddhism to the experience of Awakening of Buddhas and Arahants. When used in a generic sense, a Buddha is generally considered to be a Person who discovers the true Nature Of Reality through (lifetimes of) spiritual cultivation, Investigation of the various religious practices of his time, and Meditation . This transformational discovery is called Bodhi , which literally means "awakening", but is more commonly called "enlightenment".

In attains Nirvana but not Bodhi, thus still being subject to delusion, while the Bodhisattva attains Bodhi. In Theravada Buddhism, Bodhi and Nirvana carry the same meaning, that of being freed from craving, hate and delusion. The Arahant according to Theravada doctrine, has thus overcome greed, hatred, ''and'' delusion, attaining Bodhi. In Theravada Buddhism, the extinction of only greed and hatred, while a residue of delusion remains, is called Anagami .

Bodhi is attained when the ). Belief in self( ātmān , Pāli attā) has also been extinguished as part of the eradication of delusion, and Bodhi thus implies understanding of Anattā (Sanskrit: Anatman).

According to a saying in one of the Mahayana Sutras , if a person does not aim for Bodhi, one lives one's life like a preoccupied child playing with toys in a house that is burning to the ground.⁶


Middle Way

The primary guiding principle of Buddhist practice is the Middle Way which was discovered by the Buddha prior to his enlightenment ( Bodhi ). The ''Middle Way'' or ''Middle Path'' has several definitions:
#It is often described as the practice of non-extremism; a path of moderation away from the extremes of self-indulgence and opposing self-mortification.
#It also refers to taking a middle ground between certain Metaphysical views, e.g. that things ultimately either exist or do not exist.Kohn, ''Shambhala'', pp 131, 143
#An explanation of the state of Nirvana and perfect enlightenment where all dualities fuse and cease to exist as separate entities (see Seongcheol ).


Refuge in the Three Jewels

with Dharmachakra and Triratna , 1st century CE, Gandhāra .]]
See Also: Refuge (Buddhism)
Three Jewels