Religion has always been a controversial subject across the world. It is considered the opiate of the masses, and most of the main religions believes in some sort of higher beam or omnipotent supernatural force. The saying holds true as it has been counted that almost 90 percent of the world’s population believes in some sort of religion. Marx who spoke the quote believed that religion is what keeps the people motivated and like medicine is what blinds them to their own hardships. While the different religions will probably follow a different theology, they all develop an ethical framework in which serves as a decree of proper moral guidelines which followers choose to aspire to. Counting the world’s major religions there are over 4,000 religions throughout the world. One religion that is followed by almost 400 million faithful’s is Buddhism. Buddhism is one of the world’s oldest and well established religions, with an intricate history and follows a path of teaching and practice. The following paper will discuss the thousands of year old religion while analyzing how the religion interacts and is influenced by the modern world.
Throughout history, the practice, adherence and belief in religion has been a global factor of human society. Subsequently in the ancient times, people have resorted to following religions in order to seek out answers for their life questions. Even with development of science and technology, as people learn to adapt and manage throughout society, and unlock the mysteries of creation, religion has still played a pivotal role in their lives. The peaceful principles of Buddhism have sparked interested and help to influence its millions of followers looking for ways to escape the rapid pace and high pressures of modern life.
The founder of Buddhism lived in India over 2000 years ago in the Himalayan foothills. In 500 BC, there was a prince from Nepal named Siddhartha Gautama Shakyamuni, son of the local king in Kapilavastu, whom people known as Buddha. He was born into a privileged life where he enjoyed the comfortableness of his upbringing. (Park 1) Although his birth was seen as a series of grand events where he was a rebirth over many times as his last rebirth was to become the prince in Nepal. Buddha’s cynical observations and life experiences led him to look for a state of being that would make him happy as he rose above the wretched human condition Siddhartha at the time would leave his kingdom to see a decrepit old man that was severely ill, and a corpse being carried to a funeral by mourners. He was captivated by the experience that level him traumatized that would soon shape his ascetic view of himself. (Park 3) When he became 30, and after the birth of his only son, he made the final decision leave and be known as Buddha. After he left, he spends six years meditating trying to find answers to all the suffering in the world.
“My body reached a state of extreme emaciation. Because of eating so little my limbs became like the jointed stems of creepers or bamboo; my backside became like a buffalo's hoof; my backbone, bent or straight, was like corded beads; my jutting and broken rafters of an old house; the gleam of my eyes sunk deep in their sockets was like the gleam of water seen deep down at the bottom of a deep well. (Gethin, p. 22)” (Park 4)
Recalling an experience in his childhood, he happened to reach a state in which he settled into deep calm and peace. Buddha called this his “ultimate consciousness” or nirvana, which meant that he was enlightened. From then on, Buddha came to be known as the “Enlightened One”. “This Dharma that I have found is profound, hard to see, hard to understand; it is peaceful, sublime, beyond the sphere of mere reasoning, subtle, to be experienced by the wise. But this generation takes delight in attachment, is delighted by attachment, rejoices in attachment, and as such it is hard for them to see this truth, namely. Nirvana.” (Park 4) Buddha soon began to develop new principles and philosophers that he used to teach others. As his teachings spread throughout India, millions of people around the world have followed the path he found. The Buddhist way of life of incorporates peace loving kindness and wisdom. Buddha explained that all individuals’ problems and suffering arise from confused and negative states of mind and that all their happiness and substantial fortune arise from peaceful and certain states of mind. Buddha taught methods for his followers to gradually overcome their negative feelings such as, anger, jealousy and ignorance. His followers are to develop a positive mind that incorporates love, compassion and wisdom. Through this people will come to experience lasting peace and happiness.
In the Buddhist culture, they have three jewels of Buddhism, that Buddhist follow. “The Buddha himself, his teachings or dharma, and the community of disciples or sangha.” (Namgyal 1) Buddhists believe that the heart of Buddhism is related to the suffering of humans and the release or liberation from its misery. In the Buddhist religion is the sacred text called Tripitaka. The text is written in the Indian language the book and based off of Buddha teachings. Before, Buddha’s teachings were passed down from generation to generation through word of mouth until people began to record the teachings in books. Buddha taught the first Wheel of Dharma. These teachings which include the Sutra of the Four Noble Truths and other discourses.” (About Buddhism) There are the primary source of the Hinayana, or Lesser Vehicle, of Buddhism. Anncial, or Everything in life changes, Annata or, there is no soul, and Karma, what is carried on to the next person life in a force. They are each known as the four noble truths, with the first noble truth, Dukka means that suffering exist whether it is through pain, from getting old, death and disease. The second noble truth referred to as Samudaya, taught that there are reasons that there is suffering, it can be caused by the need or desire to control things that are out of the hands of people. Niroda, or the third noble truth believed that, there is an end to all suffering that people can overcome it and be happy, learning to live each day at a time and to let go of their desire.
The fourth noble truth Magga: to end suffering that the followers must follow the eight fold path. The noble eightfold path focuses the mind on being aware of thought and actions. They believe if they follow these paths it will lead them to the path of enlightenment. Buddha later developed the concepts of the second and third Wheels of Dharma. The wheels included the Perfection of Wisdom Sutras, and the Sutra Discriminating the Intention respectively. All of these teachings relied on Mahayan or the Great Vehicle of Buddhism. Buddha explained in the Hinayana teachings that in order to obtain liberation from suffering for oneself alone, and in the teachings of the Mahayana, Buddha explained how to obtain full enlightenment, or Buddhahood, for the sake of others. (About Buddhism) In Asia both teachings flourished in India and later to surrounding countries such as Tibet. With the spread of globalization it has now been practiced throughout North America and in Europe. Buddha Shakyamuni gave eighty-four thousand teachings in all. Buddha sought his purpose in developing Buddhism was in order to encourage people to have a permanent liberation over all suffering Buddha would realize however that temporary liberation from the suffering in the world was not enough. Buddha encouraged people to have compassion and love for each other while aiming to help people find lasting nirvana and peace.
Buddhism In the Modern World
In present time, there are various organizations are leading in their fields by following Buddhist Principles. Buddhism teaches honesty, Trust, Truthfulness, Humanity, Wisdom, Scientific and Diagnostic approach towards things. Dhamma teaches how a man should behave with another man. Companies like Nokia are making progress by following Buddhist principles in the corporate sector. There has been substantial scientific research conducted in Buddhist Universities all over the world. According to a report by Amartya Sen and UNISEF, leading countries throughout Asia, follow Buddhist philosophies in pivotal sectors of the governments such as administration and politics. In India, the most prestigious Buddhist believer was Emperor Asoka, he ruled India for most of the third century B.C He was considered a towering figure that has helped to defend his figurative role in the history of Buddhism. Asoka incorporated Buddhist principles throughout his administration. He ordered his ministers and officers to stay available at his people’s service 24 hours a day. Asoka made sure that everyone was treated equally in his rule. Asoka erected a carved wheel with many spokes on the capital of one of the pillars. This represented the wheel of Dhamma, a concept that Buddha set in motion as one of the symbols used on the modern state flag of India. This is also used with the lions on the state seal, in which India refers to it as it is. “Righteous ruler.”
While Aśoka was the follower of Buddhism, ‘Rajarshee Shahu Maharaj’ in Maharastra followed the similar humanistic, socialistic and scientific philosophy of ‘Mahatma Jyotiba Fule’. Both the rulers, Aśoka and Shahu, could rule the hearts of people through this philosophy. For this reason, the two leaders are still revered and well-known throughout India. In modern India ardent revolutionist like Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, Karmaveer Bhaurao Patil, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh, Sant Tukaram was the followers of the Buddhist principles. Buddhism is believed to be one of the main factors in which the group were able to challenge and change the outdated customs and practices to establish humanism and scientific approach that has led to welfare of masses. The Indian constitution is also based on Buddhist philosophies. More specifically in section 51(J) it emphasizes on the development of Humanism, Scientific and Diagnostic approach as the fundamental duties of the citizens of India. The main theme of India’s constitution is welfare of masses. Constitution expects the representative of the people to implement Buddhist values in politics so that administrative officers also follow the same path. According a survey in Hong Kong to study the efficiency of administration in Asian countries, India feared to be at the bottom of the list. Buddha teaches to earn only to satisfy your needs, still 300 out of 545 members of Parliament are Crorepatis in India. They are also engaged in their businesses to earn more profit rather than concentrating on welfare of masses. This is because in India, the Buddhism has failed to become the ruling philosophy.
In today's world, there is a need for humanistic and socialistic philosophies which connects humans and encourages others towards a better and progressive society. In today’s time Buddhism has had to change for the times. It was then called Modern Buddhism. Buddhism began when Buddhists were introduced to Christians in Sri Lanka this started in the nineteenth century (Schedneck B. (2007). The study of Buddhism in the modern world requires theories, approaches, and methods. Before anyone can analyze the interactions between the modern world and assigned religion we must first define Buddhism itself. One should look at the cultural achievements of Buddhism and its political status and how one was influential. This can help people understand Buddhism today. In the modern world of Buddhism, it has become reasonable and scientific. For example, people should be courteous and respectful to everyone no matter what age or gender. Treat one another the way one would want them to give them. Be nimble and thankful for what a person has, and to not hate someone that might have more or less. Buddhism is taught in several ways because not all people think the same. The objective of Buddhism for its followers to overcome all their doubts, worries, and problems. Buddhism wants its followers to understand what they are capable of and manage their best to live up to it. Once a person has mastered this, they then can begin to help others.
In the United States, the teachings of Buddhism are viewed from the psychological viewpoint. In many Southern European lands and Latin America Buddhism is taught in a devotional manner, as most like the repeat ion of chanting. The people of Northern European countries do not like chanting, they teach from the systematic approach when concerning Buddhism. The people of Eastern Europe are not happy people. The teachings of Buddhism now support the people of Eastern Europe because they look at their lives as empty and lost. They handle their jobs extremely seriously, but nothing seems to change. Buddhism teaches them how to work on themselves, that will help bring out the better qualities of their lives. Buddhism teaches to think for them and to learn how to handle life’s experiences in the best way possible according to Buddhism.
Buddhism has transformed over many centuries and is still a mainstay in Asian countries. Buddhism has adapted to modern times as many people in the West specifically the United States have taken on the concepts of Zen, Karma, and Meditation as a form of relaxation and finding calm in a chaotic life. Buddhism like other religions provides a framework for its followers to be accountable for their actions and decisions, as what they do affects others. It has succeeded in becoming a part of mainstream society, which takes into account the mantra as do as to others that would like them to do you. Buddhism will continue to transform to change to adapt to changing society as people will continue to look for ways in which to find a center in a world that is rapidly changing.
Works Cited
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