Buddhism Is A Religion Of Escapism - 1001 Words

Buddhism is a philosophy and a religion based on the teachings of the Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama who lived approximately 566 B.C.E. Today, Buddhism has millions of followers worldwide, known as Buddhists. (Ballou, 1976) Most practicing Buddhists believe in concepts such as karma, dharma, samsara and nirvana. In addition to these, Buddhists base their lives and actions on the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold. Fortress (1999) explains that the name Buddha is a title that means â€Å"one who has been awakened† or â€Å"the Enlightened One†. On his quest for enlightenment and spirituality, Buddha escaped the life he knew as a husband and father, and turned to a life of meditation, along with ascetic practices. He lived much of his life as a monk in the monastery preaching to his followers that the way to be â€Å"awakened† or achieve inner peace and enlightenment is to† live in the now†. (Fortress, 1999) This paper will discuss Buddhism and whet her it is a religion of escapism or whether Buddhist live in denial of reality. First, according to Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary the word escape is defined as to† get free of; to get away from something that is difficult or unpleasant†. Escapism is the natural human reaction to suffering, nobody wants to suffer so we do what we can to get away from it. Humans are known to substitute their suffering with an escape such as drugs, alcohol or more positively spirituality. Much of the philosophy of Buddhism focuses on the inevitable humanShow MoreRelatedReligion Five Major World Religions Essay1047 Words   |  5 Pages Religion 101 Brian R. Newsom REL 101 David Paul December 11, 2016 Religion 101 During these past weeks, I have made an effort to fathom religion as a whole. From end to end reading, study, independent research, viewing related video clips, and discussions with my co-workers, I now have a healthier understanding of the five major world religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism) and how each came into existence. I am thrilled to share with you some of theRead MoreA Review of Nirvana for Sale by Rachelle M. Scoot Essay769 Words   |  4 PagesNirvana for Sale by Rachelle M. Scott is an anthropological investigation into the intersection of wealth and piety in Thailand Theravada Buddhism. Through ethnographic methods, the book seeks to describe this relationship in a historically situated context. Thus, the book is concerned with cultural praxis within the context of religious discourses about wealth and piety. As a piece of ethnography, the work is competent, but draws little attention to the classic anthropological methodology of participantRead MoreEco-Buddhism7194 Words   |  29 Pagesï » ¿Sustainable development and Religion. Buddhism and the  Climate-Energy Emergency Statue of Buddha Sakyamuni, Bodh Gaya, India It is in this way that we must train ourselves: by liberation of the self through love. We will develop love, we will practice it, we will make it both a way and a basis, take our stand upon it, store it up, and thoroughly set it going. The Buddha,  Samyutta Nikaya Environmental and social breakdownRead MoreRastafarian79520 Words   |  319 PagesRastafarianism is an absurd religion include: 1. Rastafarianism has been around for only about seventy years. Yet in that time it has gained inexplicable fame around the world, boasting converts from all races and nationalities. 2. Adherents of the faith appear to be relatively small in number. One study suggests that less than one percent of Jamaicans describe themselves as Rastafarians. Yet the average non-Jamaican assumes that Rastafarianism is the national religion of Jamaica. 3. Rastas believe