Religion is a monotheistic form of worship or religion. It imbibes and generally covers a span of traditions, practices and beliefs which have their origin from the awakened one-or the Buddha; called Siddhartha Gautama (Emavardhana and Tori, 199). It is believed that the Buddha was enlightened on matters of life, philosophy and religion, for this simple reason, it is accredited to him the bringing about of the religion of Buddha. Records, history and empirical data point to the direction that he must have lived and taught religion in the Easter parts of India in the period of the 4th to 6th century. For the purpose of this essay, I will give a detailed outlook and thorough analysis on the religion and concepts of Buddha bearing in mind the belief, practices and the traditions.
Firstly, the concept of Samsara is one of the most critical aspects and beliefs in the Buddhism and religion as it is concerned in this line of thought and aspect. This concept is understood to be the continued life cycle which is repetitive from birth to death with a critical and special fixation on the very sense and aspect of existence (Warde, 47). It is to imply that the human person or humanity in general is based on a cyclic routine where there are birth and death and each of which are imminent in the human society. It is important to note that Karma is a critical force and momentum behind the human beings. It is crucial and important in the driving of the cycle of life and death (Toshio, Kuroda, James, Dobbins and Gay, 9). It is to say that if one plants or practices good deeds, then those seeds would be reproduced and be brought back to life either in the present life or the subsequent life. In principle, this implies that the actions, speech and all the endeavors of the human body must originate from the mental sphere and intent.
Subsequently, Buddhism is based on the four central pillars referred to as the “Four Noble Truths,” which are regarded as a theoretical base and foundations of what Buddhism is. In brief, they are the truth of Dukkha- which is the study and understanding of suffering, unsatisfactoriness or anxiety. The origin of dukkha-origin and source of suffering, anxiety, unsatisfactoriness, and the truth of the cessation or end of dukkha, the truth of the way that leads to the end or the cessation of dukkha. In principle, dukkha is outlined to have an imminent origin and source, such as when one grows old, death, mental distress or illness amongst many other forms of discomfort. It also encompasses the stress of trying to conform to the things that are ever changing (Johnson, 814). Summarily, there is a concept, tradition and belief that all the things in the human life never measure up to the expectations and standards of human beings. That is why people are ever tensed or are unease.
In retrospect, it is imperative and common for the human race to face and tackle dukkha in its truest form and sense. It is to imply that one ought to view and gauge the reality as it is and not what we want it to be. There is also an aspect and encouragement that the Buddhists are encouraged to speak the truth in a manner that is firm and non-hurtful to any person to whom the truth may be intended.
Works Cited
Emavardhana, Tipawadee, and Christopher D. Tori. "Changes in self-concept, ego defense mechanisms, and religiosity following seven-day Vipassana meditation retreats." Journal for the scientific study of religion (1997): 194-206.
Johnson, Phillip E. "Concepts and Compromise in First Amendment Religious Doctrine." California Law Review (1984): 817-846.
Toshio, Kuroda, James C. Dobbins, and Suzanne Gay. "Shinto in the history of Japanese religion." Journal of Japanese Studies 7.1 (1981): 1-21.
Warder, A. K. "On the Relationships Between Early Buddism and Other Contemporary
Systems." Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies 18.01 (1956): 43-63.
