MIDTERM EXAM

Course code Course title Course instructor Program Name Due date SOCI280

Belief System Mr. Michael Ballantine

GaBBA 01 Bui Hai Anh 21st June 2011

Buddhism Buddhism is a spiritual tradition that focuses on personal spiritual development and the attainment of a deep insight into the true nature of life. Buddhism teaches that all life is interconnected, so compassion is natural and important (BBC, 2011). Buddhism is more and more developing, and become one of big religion in the world. In this essay, we find out about the origin of the religion, key beliefs and where the religion is mostly practiced. Buddhism was founded by Siddhartha Gautama who discovered and shared with others a path to liberation from the cycle of rebirth that is appropriately called the middle way between self-indulgence and self-denial. Siddhartha Gautama is known as Buddha, he was born in about 563 B.C.E. (Young, 2005), not far from the holy city of Varanasi (Benares) in northern India. Siddhartha Gautama was the warrior son of a king and queen. According to legend, at his birth a soothsayer predicted that he might become a renounce. To prevent this, his father provided him with many luxuries and pleasures (Lise, 1982, para 2). However, as a young man, he once went on a series of four chariot rides where he first saw the more severe forms of human suffering: old age, illness, and death, as well as an ascetic renounce. The contrast between his life and this human suffering made him realize that all the pleasures on earth were in fact transitory, and could only mask human suffering. Leaving his wife and new son he took on several teachers and tried severe renunciation in the forest until the point of near-starvation (Lise,

1982). Finally, realizing that this too was only adding more suffering, he ate food and sat down beneath a tree to meditate. By morning, he had attained Nirvana (Enlightenment), which provided both the true answers to the causes of suffering (Lise, 1982). Buddhism divided into two main branches: Theravada - The School of the Elders and Mahayana - The Great Vehicle. Theravada Buddhism is strongest in Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, and Burma (Myanmar) (BBC, 2011). It is sometimes called Southern Buddhism and is one of the largest subdivisions of Buddhism. There are Theravada beliefs: The Supernatural: Many faiths offer supernatural solutions to the spiritual problems of human beings. Buddhism does not. The basis of all forms of Buddhism is to use meditation for awakening (or enlightenment), not outside powers. Supernatural powers are not disregarded but they are incidental and the Buddha warned against them as fetters on the path. The Buddha: Siddhartha Gautama was a man who became Buddha, the Awakened One - much in the same way as Jesus became Christ. Since his death the only contact with him is through his teachings which point to the awakened state. God: There is no omnipotent creator God of the sort found in Judaism, Islam and Christianity. Gods exist as various types of spiritual being but with limited powers. The Path to Enlightenment: Each being has to make their own way to enlightenment without the help of God or gods. Buddha's teachings show the way, but making the journey is up to us. (BBC, 2011)

Mahayana Buddhism is one of two main schools of Buddhist teachings. It is strongest in Tibet, China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, and Mongolia (BBC, 2011). Mahayana Buddhism is not a single group but a collection of Buddhist traditions: Zen Buddhism, Pure Land Buddhism, and Tibetan Buddhism are all forms of Mahayana Buddhism. Mahayana Buddhism says that there are three aspects of Buddha hood, which it describes by regarding Buddha as having three bodies: Dharmakaya: Buddha is transcendent - he is the same thing as the ultimate truth. Sambhogakaya: Buddha's body of bliss, or enjoyment body. Nirmanakaya: Buddha's earthly body - just like any other human being's body. (BBC, 2011) Buddhists can worship both at home or at a temple. It is not considered essential to go to a temple to worship with others. At home, Buddhists will often set aside a room or a part of a room as a shrine. There will be a statue of Buddha, candles, and an incense burner. Moreover, Buddhists come to temples where are designed to symbolize the five elements: Fire, Air, Earth, Water, and Wisdom. All Buddhist temples contain an image or a statue of Buddha (Robinson, 2009). There are as many forms of Buddhist worship as there are schools of Buddhism and there are many of those. Worship in Mahayana tradition takes the form of devotion to Buddha and to Bodhisattvas. Worshippers may sit on the floor barefoot facing an image of Buddha and chanting. They will listen to monks chanting from religious texts, perhaps accompanied by instruments, and take part in prayers (BBC, 2011).

Everyone should have a belief in life, although it might not have a determined shape. Buddhism is such a thing. Many people believe in Buddhism because they think that it could give them faith and hope. Buddhism has a great influence for Vietnamese people. Buddhism is not only a cultural and ideological life of Vietnamese, nowadays; monks are gradually becoming the deputies in the parliament of Vietnam.

References Lise F.V. (1982). The Origins of Buddhism. Retrieved from http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/japan/japanworkbook/religion/origins.html BBC. (2011). Buddhism. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/buddhism/ Robinson B.A. (2009). Buddhisms core beliefs. Retrieved from http://www.religioustolerance.org/buddhism1.htm Young, W.A. (2005). The Worlds Religions: Worldviews and Contemporary Issues, (2nd ed.). Prentice Hall.

Buddhism in Vietnam In theory there are three main religions in Vietnam: Taoism, Confucianism and Buddhism (Phat Viet, 2009); but in fact Buddhism is the predominant religion in Vietnam with a lot of followers throughout every province. It also plays an important role in the spiritual life of Vietnamese people and particular characteristic in culture. Buddhism is developing fastest in all parts of Viet Nam along with five other religions, constituting a diversified religious life in the country. Buddhism became predominant religion in Vietnam, thus, it has big influences on the culture. Viet Nams Buddhism now boasts 15,000 places of worship, 40,000 dignitaries, monks and nuns and more than 10 million followers (Vietnamnet, 2007). Buddhisms characteristics have created a close connection with the countrys folk culture. Pagodas have not only become places of worship or religious activities but also kept the Vietnamese peoples traditional and spiritual culture as venues for folk festivities (Vietnamnet, 2007). The main Buddhist festivals celebrated in Vietnam by the Buddhist community include Vesak (Buddha's Birthday) and Vulan (Ullambana) (Buddist Tourism, 2007). The custom to worship Buddha at home and go to pagodas on the first and fifteenth day of each lunar month has become a religious and cultural beauty of the Vietnamese people, creating a unique identity of the country (Vietnamnet, 2007). Moreover, Buddhism has had a particularly strong effect on morals and behavior. The philosophy of Buddhism are educated through lesson in the school, and even children are learned it from their grandparents, mother and father. Buddhism inclined people to the good, and exerts a tolerant influence on life and thought.

Besides, Buddhism has also influenced to the trade activity in Vietnam a long time, and now it seems one of characteristic of Vietnamese business culture. Almost Vietnamese businessmen are a superstitious person, especially who have big career and success. Because, Vietnamese has a sentence: A worshiping is sacred, abstinence is safe. In my view, it is a main purpose why many businessmen come to the pagoda at the first and fifteenth day of month in Moon calendar. Especially, in the early festivals, they usually spend on one month to visit famous pagodas and temples. They bring a lot of offering and worship health, lucky, money, etc. Certainly, they also waste time and money by extremely superstitious activities of themselves. Buddhism is a particular characteristic in Vietnamese culture, and it also has extremely influenced to society and people in there. Buddhists are a kind, meek and affable people, maybe it causes why Vietnam have no big religion conflict. Thus, almost Vietnamese worship Buddhism, even non-Buddhism. All Vietnamese people desire stable society and bright future so that they have peace of mind to doing in business.

Reference Vietnamnet. (2007). Buddhism in Vietnam. Retrieved from http://english.vietnamnet.vn/social/2007/12/758846/ BuddistTourism. (2007). Buddhism in Vietnam. Retrieved from http://www.buddhist-tourism.com/countries/vietnam/buddhism-in-vietnam.html PhatViet. (2009). Buddhism in Vietnam. Retrieved from http://www.phatviet.com/pgvn/Buddhisminvietnam.htm