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*Where did this religion(Buddhism)develop?
*When did it develop?
*What are the central beliefs?
*What are the major ceremoniesand festivals?
*Where do people practise it now?
*a web side for the pictures of Buddhism(Symbols, Map, and Buddhism)
Thank you so much for helping

2007-02-26 10:38:18 · 6 answers · asked by Stephanie 1 in Society & Culture Religion & Spirituality

6 answers

Buddhism is a dharmic, non-theistic religion, which is also a philosophy and a system of psychology.[1] Buddhism is also known as Buddha Dharma or Dhamma, which means the "teachings of the Awakened One" in Sanskrit and Pali, the languages of ancient Buddhist texts. Buddhism was founded around the fifth century BCE by Siddhartha Gautama, hereafter referred to as "the Buddha".

Early sources say that the Buddha was born in Lumbini (now in Nepal), and that he died around age 80 in Kushinagar (India). He lived around the fifth century BCE, according to scholarship[2]. Buddhism spread throughout the Indian subcontinent in the five centuries following the Buddha's passing, and thence into Asia and elsewhere over the next two millennia.

Indian Buddhism has become virtually extinct, except in parts of Nepal. The most frequently used classification of present-day Buddhism among scholars[3] divides present-day adherents into the following three traditions :

Southern Buddhism, or Theravada (its own usual name for itself), also known as Southeast Asian Buddhism, or Pali Buddhism - practiced mainly in Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and parts of Malaysia, Vietnam, China and Bangladesh (Southeast Asia)
Eastern Buddhism, also known as East Asian Buddhism, Chinese Buddhism, Sino-Japanese Buddhism, or Mahayana - practiced predominantly in China, Vietnam, Korea, Japan, Singapore and parts of Russia
Northern Buddhism, also known as Tibetan Buddhism, Tibeto-Mongolian Buddhism, or Vajrayana, sometimes called Lamaism - practiced mainly in Tibet, Mongolia, Bhutan and parts of Nepal, India, China and Russia.
An alternative scheme used by some scholars[4] has just two divisions, Theravada and Mahayana, the latter comprising both Eastern and Northern. Some scholars[5]use other schemes. The term Hinayana, referring to Theravada and various extinct Indian schools, is sometimes used, but is often considered derogatory, and the World Federation of Buddhists recommends it be avoided.

Buddhism continues to attract followers around the world and is considered a major world religion. According to one source ([5]), "World estimates for Buddhists vary between 230 and 500 million, with most around 350 million." However, estimates are uncertain for several countries. According to one analysis[6], Buddhism is the fifth-largest religion in the world behind Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and traditional Chinese religion. The monks' order (Sangha), which began during the lifetime of the Buddha in India, is amongst the oldest organizations on earth.

In Buddhism, any person who has awakened from the "sleep of ignorance" (by directly realizing the true nature of reality) is called a buddha.[7] Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, is thus only one among other buddhas before or after him. His teachings are oriented toward the attainment of this kind of awakening, also called enlightenment, Bodhi, liberation, or Nirvana.

Part of the Buddha’s teachings regarding the holy life and the goal of liberation is constituted by the "The Four Noble Truths", which focus on dukkha, a term that refers to suffering or the unhappiness ultimately characteristic of unawakened, worldly life. The Four Noble Truths regarding suffering state what is its nature, its cause, its cessation, and the way leading to its cessation. This way to the cessation of suffering is called "The Noble Eightfold Path", which is one of the fundamentals of Buddhist virtuous or moral life

2007-02-26 10:42:39 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

*Where did this religion(Buddhism)develop? In India

*When did it develop? About 600 BCE

*What are the central beliefs? The four noble truths:
1. Life is full of suffering.
2. The origin of suffering is longing (craving).
3. The end of longing and suffering is possible.
4. To bring about the end of longing and suffering, follow the 8-fold path.

*What are the major ceremoniesand festivals?
* Vesak
* Asalha Puja
* Magha Puja
* Vassa
* Pavarana
* Kathina
* Uposatha

*Where do people practise it now? Worldwide.

*a web side for the pictures of Buddhism(Symbols, Map, and Buddhism)
http://www.buddhanet.net

2007-02-26 10:47:20 · answer #2 · answered by NHBaritone 7 · 1 0

Buddhism developed after Prince Siddhartha saw suffering in the world and wanted to find a solution to it. The whole story is too long to put in here, so you'd be better served by checking out buddhanet.net. It started in India and Prince Siddhartha achieved enlightenment and was called "The Awakened One" (i.e. The Buddha) approx 2500 years ago.

The core beliefs are that all things are impermanent and no essential substance or concept is, all emotions cause pain and no emotion ever is truly pleasurable, all phenomena are "illusory" and "empty" (the definitions of these 2 words are often BADLY misinterpreted by those who choose not to understand, so if you're interested in really understanding, check their definitions out at buddhanet), enlightenment is beyond concepts.

The 4 Noble Truths and the Path of Enlightenment are available for study via buddhanet.

It's practiced all over the world, making a HUGE comeback in India now too. The "major ceremonies and festivals" depend on which country you're referring to. Tibet, Japan, Sri Lanka, etc. all have their own festivals.

Hope this gives you some insight... more can be found at buddhanet.

_()_

2007-02-26 10:51:13 · answer #3 · answered by vinslave 7 · 0 0

Buddhism began in India, buddha(Sidhartha Guatama) became awakened at a place called Bohd Gaya atout 500 BC.
Central beliefs? Buddhism is all about direct experience not much room for beliefs. But the highest teaching is that all beings are capable of freeing themselves from suffering. It is not concerned with the afterlife, here and now are where it's at, so to speak.
People practice all over the world in many different forms all preaching the same dharma.
Online check out Hardcore Zen for some "American Zen" and Dogen Sangha Zen with Gudo Nishijima.

2007-02-26 10:50:07 · answer #4 · answered by guy o 5 · 0 0

a good website on Buddhism

http://www.buddhanet.net/

2007-02-26 11:59:18 · answer #5 · answered by wb 6 · 0 0

Try wikipedia, for starters.

2007-02-26 10:41:33 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0 2

fedest.com, questions and answers