Essay on Following in the Ways of Zen Buddhism - 1396 Words

Following in the Ways of Zen Buddhism I fell in love with the first Buddhist I ever met. That is to say I fell in love with a man who is a Buddhist. I, however, am not a Buddhist. I have faith in what I find to be right rather than committing to a religion that I would not wholeheartedly believe in. It would seem that a difference in our spiritual practices may be a strain on our relationship, but in truth our faith lies in similar areas. The biggest difference between us is that I lack the knowledge and self discipline to be a practicing Buddhist. In loving Matthew I also want to gain understanding in what it is he believes. I have read through several texts in passing and find Buddhism more appealing as I continue to†¦show more content†¦An organization of Buddhists that maintain the website Buddhaweb hold these teachings as the core concepts of Zen Buddhism. The Four Noble Truths state that suffering exists, suffering arises from attachment to desires, suffering ceases when attachment to desire ceases, and fr eedom from suffering is possible by practicing the Eightfold Path. The Noble Eightfold Path teaches three disciplines in wisdom, morality, and meditation. Wisdom, or panna , is learning to have the right view and thoughts. Morality, or sila , teaches to control your speech correctly, act correctly, and pursue a correct livelihood. Meditation, or samadhi , has you discipline your efforts, your mindfulness, and your contemplation. These teachings in qualities are meant to be practiced to obtain peace, and for some to travel the path towards Enlightenment. (â€Å" buddhaweb †) Its all well and good to explain Zen Buddhist doctrine, but Zen is a much more abstract idea. A British researcher and Buddhist, Christmas Humphreys, says it is hard to relate Zen within time and space also, â€Å"[f]or Zen is not a new thing but a new way of looking at things. It is a new vision with the old eyes.† (Humphreys 99) Zen is best seen through the actions of those who practice for those who wish to gain a basic understanding, and Matthew is my nearest and dearest example of a practicing Buddhist. Matt performs best in his acts of compassion. Compassion is important in Buddhism because itShow MoreRelatedBuddhism : Buddhism And Buddhism1009 Words   |  5 Pages Zen Buddhism isn’t exactly a â€Å"religion†, but a way of living. It creates peace within the human mind that allows one to grow, develop and look at the world more positively. Originating in China in 650 C.E., Zen Buddhism is a combination between Indian Mahayana Buddhism and Taoism. Mahayana Buddhism promotes bodhisattva, which is practicing the way of life in the direction of Buddha. Taoism is a religion developed by Lao-tzu, a Taoist philosopher, and focuses on obtaining long life and good fortuneRead MoreWhat Does Eastern Religions Mean For Americans?1397 Words   |  6 PagesReligions mean to Americans?† Starting in the 19th century, Buddhism began to make its way to America through the immigration of the Chinese whom brought their religious traditions with them. Buddhism con tinued to gain popularity in America when Buddhist texts, as well as Buddhist teachers, were brought here to share and spread their religion. It wasn’t until the late 1950’s/early 1960’s that we see the interest in Buddhism, particularly Zen Buddhism, blossom throughout the country. Through the memoir â€Å"SacredRead MoreCompare And Contrast : Dogen And Hakuin1419 Words   |  6 PagesBelanger GC2Y Sec 06 May 4, 2016 Final essay: Dogen and Hakuin Compare and Contrast There are multiple schools in Zen Buddhism as well as multiple masters and teachers. Dogen Kigen, master of Soto Zen (1200-1253), as well as the Japanese monk who brought Caodong school of Chan over from China to Japan and then greatly modified it based on his own insights and criticism of Buddhism in Japan. Dogen lost his parents at a young age and became ordained at thirteen, and then became student of Eisai’sRead MoreBuddhism s Teachings On Zen Buddhism1591 Words   |  7 Pageshowever, differs depending on the perspective from which one views Buddhism. Dogen, in his teachings on Zen Buddhism, promotes the practice of zazen to reach enlightenment. Shinran and the Pure Land sect are devoted to Amida Buddha, who they believe will bring them to the Pure Land, and enlightenment. The ways espoused by Dogen and Shinran are similar in some aspects, but differing enough in others to warrant the separate sects of Buddhism in Japan. For the purposes of this examination, the two sec tsRead MoreThe Influence of Buddhism in Chinese Martial Arts Essay777 Words   |  4 PagesGutowski 1 BrandonGutowski Carrie Morris Narration of Asia 30 January 2012 The Influence of Buddhism In Chinese Martial Arts Since first introduced During the Han Dynasty, Buddhism has played a major role in Chinese art and culture. This is especially true in the traditions that surround the art of Shaolin Kung-Fu, and their strong belief in Chan (Zen) Buddhism. Kung-Fu was Influenced by the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama and focuses heavily on the belief that enlightenment is attained throughRead MoreThe Spread of Buddhism Essay1149 Words   |  5 PagesSpread of Buddhism Buddhism is a philosophy, a moral code, and, for some a religious faith which originated in 530 BC in India. Buddhism evolved as a modification of Hinduism when Hinduism started to become very complicated due to too many sacrifices in the name of God. Today, an estimated 300 million people follow one of the many varieties of Buddhism. Budda, or Siddhartha Guatama which means the awakened one had the religion named after him because he founded the ideas behind Buddhism. BuddaRead MoreThe Common Themes Of Zen Buddhism1429 Words   |  6 PagesZen Buddhism can be fairly confusing to the average person; the teachings and stories may come across as arbitrary or nonsensical. However, do not let that deter you from getting to experience a religion that offers a highly different perspective of the world. The focus will be on analyzing some of the common themes of Zen Buddhism which is comprised in the â€Å"Zen Slogan† (associated with the First Patriarch). The phrase is: â€Å"a special transmission outside of the teachings not established upon wordsRead MoreEssay about The Inversion of Buddhism in Heart of Darkness1511 Words   |  7 PagesThe Inversion of Buddhism in Heart of Darkness  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚   In Joseph Conrads Heart of Darkness, Marlow is described more than once as sitting in the pose of a Buddha while he begins his story. Even our first view of Marlow prepares us for the later comparison: Marlow sat cross-legged... He had sunken cheeks, a yellow complexion, a strait back, an ascetic aspect, and, with his arms dropped, the palms of hands outwards, resembled an idol (16). This is the very image of a meditating Buddha. OurRead MoreSummarise The Life Of Buddha And The History Of Buddhism937 Words   |  4 Pages1. Summarize the life of Buddha and the history of Buddhism. To summarize the life of Buddha I tried doing a little more research myself. There is not a complete biography on him. Not until centuries after his death and that is still very little. We know that he was born Siddhartha Gautama in Lumbini near the present Indian-Nepal border. We know that he was the son of a ruler of a petty kingdom. He was raised a young prince who was raised in sheltered luxury. When he turned 29 he saw how emptyRead More Buddhism Essay1168 Words   |  5 Pagesand India this is everyday life as a Buddhist. Buddhism revolves around a strict code of daily rituals and meditations. To an outsider they can seem mystical or even odd, but these are the paths to enlightenment and spiritual salvation. Throughout the centuries, Buddhism has evolved into a major religion in Asia and other parts of the world. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The mystical roots of Buddhism can be traced back to the first century BCE. Buddhism began with the birth of Siddhartha Gautama. When