Buddhism

Paper Summary:

This paper provides a background to the start and rise of Buddhism. It then looks at how this Eastern religion influenced ancient Greek and Roman philosophy, even though at first glance these religions and thoughts seem extremely different. Examines different aspects of Buddhism in terms of their relation to Greek and Roman culture.

From the Paper:

"Self-educated writer Elbert Hubbard once said, "He who influences the thought of his times influences the times that follow." This quote applies perfectly to one of the most influential figureheads in world religion: Siddartha Gautama, better known as the Buddha. The story of Buddhism first began in the Kapilavastu region of the country of Nepal, which is seated on the border of India and China. In 563 BCE, Gautama was born to the royal family of that region and raised to follow in his father's footsteps as emperor. Throughout his youth, he excelled at academics, athletics, and his princely duties. He eventually took a woman named Yasodhara for his wife and they lived peacefully for ten years until the birth of their son. Traditionally, since Gautama had produced an heir, his father was expected to step down from the throne and pass it along to him. However, Gautama rejected this constraining social custom after encountering the sobering horrors of poverty, illness, and death. He was dissatisfied with his inability to relieve his people's sufferings and so left his easy lifestyle to search for an answer to ease their misery. For several years he roamed the countryside seeking enlightenment until he came to rest beneath the leaves of a bodhi tree. He remained there until he finally awakened to enlightenment, hence becoming the Buddha, or "enlightened one." According to Robert Thurman, from that point on, the Buddha continued to teach his followers how to avoid the earthly sufferings of this world through constant discipline and meditation. Although the Buddha died in 484 BCE, his teachings have lived on to influence many aspects of Western culture. Shades of Buddhism can be found in the philosophies of ancient Greek and Roman culture, but a more detailed explanation of Buddhism is required to adequately compare the three."

More papers on Buddhism:

• Research Paper # 83498 : "Cha'an Buddhism"
• Analytical Essay # 135257 : "Passage on Buddhism"
• Essay # 83990 : "Chinese Buddhism "
• Essay # 32376 : "Buddhism and Buddhist Art"

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