CASBuddhism-Christina

B u d d

h i s m Region:
 * Buddhism was originated from India and has now spread so that there are Buddhists in nearly every country. Thailand:95% Cambodia:90% Myanmar:88% Bhutan:75% Srilanka: 70% China has 102,000,000 Buddhists

Description of Main Beliefs: Description of Gods: Main Buddhists Gods: Description of Sacred Writings:
 * After death, one returns to early life in higher or law form of life according to his good or bad deeds(called reincarnation) and individual may require repeatedly
 * Faith centers on correct understanding of human nature and ultimate reality
 * Buddah is their only master
 * They take refuge in the Buddah, the Dhamma, and the Sangha
 * This world is not created and ruled by a God
 * Meditate to become enlightened
 * Some Buddhists believe in gods, some don't-believing in gods is not required in Buddhism, recommended against believing
 * Gods live a long time but are still mortal
 * Green Tara: She is the mother of all Buddahs and mother of all compassion
 * Medicine Buddah: The Buddah of healing
 * Maitreya: The future Buddah
 * Manjushri: The Budishava of Wisdom
 * Vajrashava: The Budishava of purification
 * Divided into the categories of canonical or non-canonical
 * The Sotras or Sutras are believed to be either literally or metamorphically, the actual words of the Buddah.
 * The tripitaka is the earliest collection of Buddhist teachings and the only text recognized as canonical by the Ravada Buddhist.
 * The Mahayan sutras is a sacred text
 * Tibetan book of the dead is the most well-known of the west
 * Written by a Tibetan monk
 * Describes in detail the stages of death from the tibetan point of view

Description of Practices: The 3 Trainings or Practice: Description of Festivals: Symbols:
 * 1) Sila:Virtue,good conduct,morality. This is based on two fundamental principals
 * The principal or equality:that all living things are equal
 * The principal of reciprocity:this is the golden rule in Christianity to do
 * 1) Samadhi:Concentration,meditation,mental development. Developing one's mind is the path to wisdom which in turn leads to personal freedom. Mental development also strengthens and controls our mind;this helps us maintain good conduct.
 * 2) Prajna:Discernment, insight, wisdom, enlightenment. This is the real heart of Buddhism. Wisdom will emerge if your mind is pure and calm.
 * Vesak or visakah Puja (Buddah Day)-Buddah's birthday celebrates the birth, enlightenment, and death of the Buddah. It's celebrated on the first full moon in May.
 * Elephant festival-The Buddah used the example of a wild elephant which when is caught, is harnessed to train. In the same way he said a person new to Buddhism should have a special friendship of an older Buddhist. This festival is held on the third Saturday in November.
 * Festival of the tooth-In Kandy, a great temple was built to house a relic of Buddah's tooth. The tooth can never be seen but once a year in August on the night of the full moon there is a special procession for it.
 * Eight spoked wheel-represents Buddah turning the wheel of truth or law.
 * Bodhi tree-represents the tree under which the Buddah recieved enlightment.
 * Foot prints-represents the physical presence of the enlightened one.

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