Category: Buddhism

Introduction

Religions are ancient social institutions, designed to perform several tasks at once. One of the main goals is the formation of the worldview and behavior of people, which determines the belief in the existence of some supernatural force. There are four types of ancient religions that have existed for many centuries: totemism, shamanism, fetishism, animism. However, as a result of the evolution of religion, monotheistic and polytheistic beliefs are now the most relevant. It is necessary to analyze some of the most common religions in order to identify their role in the life of society.

Buddhism

In Buddhism, there are many thoughts about ecology that deserve attention. Buddhism is a religion that deeply respects life and nature. This idea has developed and has been widely practiced since the creation of the teaching through its dogmas and vows. From the point of view of Buddhism, the world is divided into two types: units that reflect emotions and are deprived of them. People and animals belong to emotional units, and plants, space, mountains, planets  to units without emotion (Analayo, 2018). In Buddhism, the presence of six kinds of living beings is emphasized: gods, warlike rivals of the gods, people, animals, prets  eternally hungry creatures and inhabitants of hell (Analayo, 2018). It is obvious that Buddhism is categorically against the deprivation of anyones life, it is impossible to kill not only a person, but also the emotional units of the other five worlds.

Islam

The Muslim concept of nature and man is sacred, for both man and nature are the great sacred creations of God. In Islam, a person is responsible before God for the preservation of the purity and beauty of nature (Graham, 2017). If the harmony in the attitude of people to nature is violated, an environmental threat arises. Nature is defenseless against the soulless and careless activities of people. The sinfulness of private ownership of natural resources is fixed in Sharia law. Prophet Muhammad said that water, pasture and salt are common. The Quran states that God created the heavens, the earth, and animals so that they would benefit people (Graham, 2017). For a Muslim, everything related to nature has both moral and moral significance (Graham, 2017). The centuries-old history of our ancestors testifies to their reverent attitude towards their environment. Muslim law condemns owners who, for whatever reason, do not cultivate their land and at the same time do not concede it to anyone.

Christianity

One of the main principles of the position of Christian churches in environmental issues is the principle of the unity and integrity of the world created by God. Christianity does not consider the surrounding nature in isolation, the plant, animal and human world are mutually connected. But there is a fairly powerful wave of criticism of Christianity precisely from an ecological standpoint. Christianity is accused of the fact that the civilization it created turned out to be the most cruel and the people of the Christian civilization, unjustly in relation to nature, was exalted by themselves. (Graham, 2017) The assertion that only Christianity is to blame for the ecological collapse is not entirely true, since many reasons have influenced the ecological situation. The Christian Church as a social organization cannot remain aloof from the problem that worries modern society (Graham, 2017). Each of the Christian denominations has developed its own social position, its own view of the modern environmental problem. However, it is worth emphasizing that prior to modern Christianity did not pay much attention to environmental issues.

Conclusion

One of the most important functions of religions is spiritual ecology, aimed at fostering a respectful attitude towards nature. This example shows that beliefs encourage people to value and respect not only God or themselves, but the whole world. It is important to emphasize that ecology is only one of many aspects affected by religion. However, this social institution has a positive impact on the relationship between a person and nature in a narrow sense, and in a broad sense, on the education of the individual as a whole.

References

Analayo, B. (2018). Rebirth in early Buddhism and current research. Wisdom Publications.

Graham, W. A. (2017). Islamic and comparative religious studies. Selected writings. Taylor & Francis.

Buddhism is a religion that uses Buddhas perspective, such as the traditions and beliefs attributed to the religious faith. It is believed that Buddha lived and taught in some parts of India during the fourth century BCE (Miura, 2018). Buddhism has been getting popular in many countries, for example, Japan and China. This essay seeks to compare Buddhism in China and Japan by showing how the religion was introduced, the key similarities and differences in the two nations. The paper will also compare Shintoism and Buddhism in Japan.

In Japan and China, Buddhism was introduced by traders who came from India through Pakistan and Afghanistan. The missionaries came to trade for different commodities where they realized that China and Japan did to have an established form of religion (Mejbel & Mejbel, 2018). Many people were converted to Buddhists, and massive popularity of the religion was observed. Through the Indians, the Chinese accepted the religion and Japan followed suit (Miura, 2018). In both countries, Buddhism was recognized to solve disputes among many communities, and the clergy followed guidelines as per the Buddha.

Practice and Popularity of Buddhism in Japan and China

Buddhisms success factor was the result of the regime that existed at that time. For example, in Japan, Prince Shotoku was a Japanese ruler and allowed the establishment of the new religion to the people he was leading (Seth, 2017). Shotoku, with efforts from his elites, facilitated the spread of the faith in urban areas, the rural, and all marginalized places in the country. Similarly, in China, the Tang dynasty, which had been established in the seventeenth century, aided in Buddhisms establishment. The dynasty later became a key factor to the new religion by incorporating Chinese art into the faith (Mejbel & Mejbel, 2018). Additionally, Chinese writing and philosophy were also included to enable enough popularity of the religion.

When Buddhism covered a significant region in Japan and China, the new converts were taught contemporary literature about the Buddhas philosophies. That led to the understanding and adoption of Buddhism culture in both nations (Seth, 2017). Many schools were established in China and the two countries wanted to address the challenge of literacy where they wanted to combine it with religious doctrine as by Buddhas perspective. Both Japan and China possess the distinct artistic ability and the two nations have been key spreaders of Buddhist culture to other states.

Key Difference in Practicing Buddhism Between China and Japan

However, due to the change of events and globalizations rise, Buddhism has been different in the two countries. There has been a massive cultural and political alteration in both nations. Buddhism is more widespread in China when compared to Japan (Miura, 2018). For example, there is a wide variety of Buddhist arts and designs in China which outweighs any other country in the world. For instance, Dazu stone and Longmen Grottoes are evident in the Chinese religious compounds that are marked with transition from a generation that did not know supernatural beings existence. On the contrary, Japan has a significant population of people who believe in Buddhism more than China (Seth, 2017). Although China contributed to Buddhisms popularity in Japan: the two nations were faced by political and social forces that saw Japan defeat China in terms of population that was converted to Buddhism.

When it comes to Buddhism art, Japanese art differs from that of China. The reason is that the Japanese artistic style is more sophisticated as compared to China. Japan adopted art from India, Korea, and China which led to comprehensive skills that define their art (Miura, 2018). The other keynote on this religious art by Japan is that it has focused on gods and spirits. In contrast, China has focused on the indigenous culture of spiritual transition affected by traditional beliefs.

Chinese Buddhist art incorporated aspects of realism in work, while the Japanese relied on foreign information to define their subjects in Buddhism. Most Chinese Buddhism art was abstract, while the Japanese religious perspective is inclined to depict Buddhas real portrayals wherein, Chinese have never been interested in such (Seth, 2017). When it comes to ordained Buddhists, China has not accepted marriages between the Sangha because of commitment to serve Buddha. Another key aspect refers to the meals: Buddhism advocates for the avoidance of animal products. In Japan, they are not strict vegans as compared to China which makes the situation vary in the two countries.

Buddhism vs. Shintoism in Japan

Buddhism and Shintoism (Shinto) religions are the all-time practiced beliefs in Japan. The two religions are almost the same and some people have considered themselves members of both. However, there are distinct differences between both faiths because of their unique origins and traditions. Shinto is more of an animistic religion because all living things have spirits, including inanimate objects such as rocks (Mejbel & Mejbel, 2018). The important living things are called Kami, and human beings worship them. On the other hand, Buddhism is not a theistic perspective because people who have been civilized in the religion, such as Buddha himself, are adored.

The similarity between Shinto and Buddhism in Japan is that the two religious convictions use beliefs and norms of Hinduism. The ancestors are considered Kami, and the two religions follow a system of gotras, the descendants of Rishis (Mejbel & Mejbel, 2018). The two religious convictions have been harmoniously coexisting and complementing each other on many degrees. Both doctrines are concerned with the afterlife and the soul. Additionally, the two religious perspectives accept the spirituality of the world and the recognition of lifestyles.

Buddhism has a unique and clear doctrine compared to Shinto, which involves anything that an individual may wish to do. Buddhism has rules and guidelines popular in Japan, such as refrainment from killing; hence, it would not be easy to consume meat for the Buddhists (Mejbel & Mejbel, 2018). On the contrary, Shinto is unclear and makes ambiguity prevail in the doctrine that is not well defined to many because it does not have religious texts like Buddhism. Shintoism allows a polytheistic religion to worship the kami or any other deity of their choice. Buddhists worship in temples, while Shinto use shrines as their worship sites (Mejbel & Mejbel, 2018). The aesthetic value of the places of worship is also different because Shinto shrines have decorated vermilions and entrances protected by dogs, foxes, and animal sculptures.

Conclusion

Buddhism in Japan and China was introduced from India during the start of the seventeenth century. Many Chinese and Japanese accepted Buddhas teaching on way of life which made Buddhism gain widespread popularity in the Asian region. Japan has borrowed some significant content of Buddhist art from China. The key difference between both countries is how Buddhism is practiced. In Japan, people strictly follow all the religious practices as per Buddhas perspective. Shintoism differs from Buddhism because of the animistic belief that every living thing is sacred. Shintoism has gained popularity since it appears to be flexible for many people who like self-pleasure. Buddhism and Shintoism are equally important when it comes to obeying the law and respecting the human dignity.

References

Mejbel, M., & Mejbel, M. (2018). The most important physical and natural manifestations in Shintoism religion. Alustath Journal for Human and Social Sciences, 224(2), 151168. Web.

Miura, T. (2018). ShintM is the indigenous religion of the world. Journal of Religion in Japan, 7(1), 57-81. Web.

Seth, A. (2017). Book Review: Changing dynamics of India Japan relations: Buddhism to a special strategic partnership by Shamshad Ahmed Khan. China Report, 53(3), 424426. Web.

In Siddhartha, Hermann Hesse presents the theme of enlightenment as an unrelenting quest for the truth, which he considers essential for achieving a harmonious connection with the world. Nirvana, or a universal understanding of life, is the truth searched for by Siddhartha and Govinda, who both have a basic desire to comprehend their spiritual life. The two start their quest by convicting themselves that finding Nirvana is possible. On keenly observing the difference between knowing things by experience and through the mind, Siddhartha and Govinda discuss the progress and age of one of their spiritual teachers. For example, in their discussion, Govinda replies, Our eldest has reached perhaps the age of sixty years, and Siddhartha says, Sixty years old, and has not attained nirvana (Hesse 9). Based on their discussion, Siddhartha and Govinda wonder why the men, holy as they seem, have not yet reached the state of enlightenment despite possessing much knowledge about it.

From the narration, Siddhartha achieves enlightenment when he is brought to the river for the final time. Siddhartha finally sees a flow of images from his life, his time with Kamala, and his fathers and Govindas faces, as they dissolve and merge into the flow of the river itself. He hears the thousands of voices in the world culminate into one single sound, Om (Hesse). Finally, Siddhartha comprehends life as one constant flow of unity as he merges with the flow of the river itself and discovers where enlightenment resides all moments, as illustrated in the video on Life of the Buddha. Siddhartha tells Govinda, You. Vulnerable one, may indeed be a seeker, for, striving towards your goal, there is much you do not see which is right before your eyes (Hesse 110). Since Siddhartha achieves enlightenment, he instructs Govinda to take an indirect approach to search for the truth.

Work Cited

Hesse, Hermann. Siddhartha. S.l.: Sterling Pub Co Inc. 2022.

Many religions take similar paths and steps to help their followers or believers reach enlightenment. Other religions require their followers or believers to accept one idea or creed. Some believe in God and others do not. Whether they believe in gods or not, each religion has its followers who believe and follow the practices of their religion. Hinduism and Buddhism are two religions that have a lot of followers. The Hindu religion began about 5000 years ago.

The word Hindu came from the name of the river Indus which flows through Northern India. The Persians who migrated to India called the river Hindu, the land of the ÜHindustan and the people that lived near this river were called the Hindus. The religion came to be known as Hinduism. The basic tenets of Hinduism were brought to India by the Aryans who settled along the banks of the Indus River.

Hinduism is thought to be the oldest religion in human civilization. Hinduism is the dominant religion in India. Over 80% of Indias people practice the Hindu religion. Hinduism may be divided into three periods. The Hindu followers believe in idol worship, caste system, reincarnation, karma, dharma, and moksha. They also believe in moral ideals, for example, nonviolence, friendship, compassion, truthfulness, self-control, fortitude, purity, and generosity. They believe in one supreme God called Brahman. They are associated with many gods, and they worship all of them. The gods and goddesses that they worship are all mini aspects of the Brahman. They are also in different forms such as spirits, animals, and plants. The gods or deities symbolize divine power.

Buddhism began in about 600 BC. The civilians were getting tired of the caste system. They were getting very materialistic and they were getting too attached to the soil. The cities were building up and it was becoming an agricultural economy. The Indo-Aryan tribes were settling down and becoming farmers, instead of shepherds of flocks like wanted. Siddhartha- a Hindu prince who was sheltered most of his life, decided at the age of 19, to leave his family and go out into the real world from his palace, and see the reality.

He was upset by what he saw which included suffering and death. Siddhartha realized that people were not happy, so he went on a 7-year journey and while he was there, he accomplished total enlightenment, and he became the first Buddha. (Ninian, 1993) He founded the religion known as Buddhism, by taking certain aspects of other religions to create it. Buddhism accepts some Hindu concepts such as Moksha (the liberation from rebirth) samsara (the world as an ocean of births and deaths), and karma (the cosmic law of cause and effect).

Buddhism and Hinduism are two very similar religions. They both believe in reincarnation, they both believe in their religion focusing on more than one god, they both believe in the afterlife, and they both believe in peace, more than anything else. Siddhartha took milder parts of Hinduism and different aspects of other religions and made Buddhism. He founded Buddhism because the whole city he lived in was becoming intolerant of the religion they followed. They figured that the religion had too many rules, and regulations and it was unfair to everyone. There is no creed or anything that you must follow in Buddhism. Anyone who practices Buddhism can reach Nirvana (enlightenment), unlike in Hinduism its difficult to reach enlightenment.

In Hinduism or any unified system of beliefs and ideas there seemed to be no moral responsibility, while in Buddhism, there was the introduction of the concept of no-self, karma, and moral responsibility. Buddhism seems to be a mild form of Hinduism. In many ways, it is similar to using some of the same practices and teachings for all the people. Buddhism seems more realistic, so when Siddhartha created it, he must have been going for religion with reality. (John, 1995) The people past, as well as the people in the present, follow Buddhism with the idea that it is a looser version of Hinduism.

Hindus and Buddhists are very kind and respectful to animals. They believe that every animal has a soul. Many Hindus and Buddhists are vegetarians. (Gavin, 1996) Because they believe in reincarnation, any animal could be another form of a relative or close friend. Eating them would bring bad karma, and break the Eightfold Paths. Although there are many similarities, there are also many differences. Hinduism has a castes system or social classes, unlike Buddhists.

References

Gavin Flood, An Introduction to Hinduism (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996.

John S. Strong, The Experience of Buddhism: Sources and Interpretations (Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing Company, 1995).

Ninian Smart, The Religions of Asia (Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1993).

Buddhism and Hinduism are two ancient world religions, which have their origins in India. Hinduism formed 3500 years ago and worships Brahman, a supreme lifeforce from which atman (souls) and even gods originate. Buddhism was formed approximately 2800 years ago and is both a stem off from Hinduism but a completely different in theology religion. The religions share many similar concepts and terminologies. Both religions believe in the continuous cycle of life, death, and rebirth, known as samsara, all life in existence follows this cyclicality. Both religions also embrace the concept of dharma, which is meant as the eternal nature of reality viewed as either cosmic law underlying right behavior and social order (in Hinduism) or the universal truth (in Buddhism). Finally, both religions have karma as a fundamentally underlying concept, representing the actions and intentions of individuals, presenting them as good or evil. Karma is then tied to samsara, or rebirth (History.com Editors, 2019).

This is where the religions start to differ, their belief in the gods and life after death. In Hinduism, there are multiple gods, each representative of certain qualities or entities, but all come from the lifeforce known as Atman. Meanwhile, Buddhism fully rejects gods, even the presence of a single omnipotent Creator. Instead, they believe in a general lifeforce, cosmos type of entity, but also, they argue that each person has their personal god. However, God is not necessary for Buddhism, which is a practical religion focused on self-enlightenment rather than faith in a deity. They believe that there is no permanent self or soul, and it is not the soul being reborn or reaching nirvana, but rather just energy (BBC., n.d.).

Therefore, in simple terms, for Hinduists, the primary goal is to live a life with good karma and achieve closeness to the gods in order to have a better life after rebirth. They must achieve the four aims called Purusharthas, and act morally and ethically, to lead a good life. Eventually, after multiple rebirths and climbing up the caste ladder, one is able to achieve moksha: or salvation that ends the cycle of rebirths and their soul merges with Atman. Meanwhile, in Buddhism, the aim is to achieve nirvana through self-enlightenment, attainable only by eliminating negative aspects such as greed, hatred, and ignorance. By doing so, their energy transitions further into the unknown breaking the cycle of rebirth, but unlike most other religions, there is no belief in eternal souls or afterlife.

References

BBC. (n.d.). What does Buddhism teach about life after death?. Web.

History.com Editors. (2019). Hinduism. Web.

Buddhism and Christianity are the religions that have many believers from different parts of the world. The two religions may be seen as distinct, but they still share some beliefs and teachings. Buddhism entails teachings about Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as Buddha, while Christianity is based on the belief in Jesus as the Son of God (Bidwell, 2018). This paper seeks to compare and contrast the two religions differences and similarities based on three key aspects such as Afterlife, Suffering, and Rituals. Both Buddhism and Christianity are different from each other.

Christianity and Buddhism are western and eastern religions that differ a lot concerning suffering. This is the case as in Christianity, suffering is part of Gods plan where He allows mankind to be tempted, but He gives humanity a way to overcome the suffering. In the book of Job, the devil requests God for permission to test Job, and Jehovah grants this permission (Willard et al., 2020). Despite Job suffering many tragedies that he is on the verge of death, God redeems him, multiplies his wealth, and reinstates his health. The persecution was not a way of making Job suffer but was just a test to see if he could be tempted to curse his God. Conversely, in Buddhism, suffering is depicted as something that humanity does not need. Grief in Buddhism is differently approached compared to how Christians consider suffering as part of the journey to finish the battle and be reunited with God.

Moreover, in Buddhism, suffering is associated with sickness, old age, and depression, while in Christianity, it is not the case. Christians understand that to live a life that pleases God, they must be ready to suffer (Willard et al., 2020). The Bible states that those who desire to live a Godly life should be ready to be persecuted (King James Bible,1769/2017,2 Timothy 3:12). The difference between the two religions in terms of the origin of suffering is that Buddhism views it as self-inflicted, but Christianity believes that it comes out of devotion to God. Buddhism does not associate suffering with God the way Christianity does. In addition, in Buddhism, the suffering ends when an individual follows the Noble Eightfold path, which entails the following right views, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration (Hall et al., 2018). If a person engages in all the above steps, then they can be liberated from suffering. However, this is not the case in Christianity as suffering can be put to an end if the person repents their sins, follows Gods commandments, and believes in Jesus Christ.

Nonetheless, in terms of rituals, the two religions differ as Christians do not engage in practices as those involved in Buddhism. The worship of idols in Christianity is outlawed as the religion entails the worship of just one God. However, in Buddhism, the worship of idols is common, as they believe in several gods representing the supreme being (Hall et al., 2018). The similarity between these two religions is the presence of supernatural beings, God, who sustains them. Moreover, the Christians do not mix their faith with any other religions beliefs and traditions. For instance, Christians cannot accept Buddhisms teachings as they do not teach about salvation through Jesus Christ.

Conversely, Buddhism allows for a mixture of its traditions to that of other religions. The two religions have different rituals that mark various ceremonies, such as Puja for the Buddhist and Easter for Christians (Hall et al., 2018). Puja is a ceremony that Buddhists give Buddha gifts and offerings. Christians have Easter ceremonies, where they celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, and Christmas, where they commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ. Buddhists chant the scriptures as a way of meditation. The offerings are given to Buddha to thank him for the teachings.

Furthermore, in the aspect of afterlife, the Christians believe that the dead will be resurrected and live with their God in Heaven. In turn, Buddhists believe in a cycle of birth and rebirth or rather reincarnation (Willard et al., 2020). Jesuss teachings to Christians do not mention reincarnation as Christians only have one life to live. The Buddhists believe that karma is responsible for deciding where someone goes after death. Moreover, they think that at the end of the birth and death circle lies the ultimate goal Nirvana. They do not believe in heaven or hell as their God does not punish them for being sinners. In the Christian religion, afterlife belief is emphasized in the book of Revelation (Bidwell, 2018). Jesus told His followers that He had gone to prepare a place for them in heaven and that once the time came, He would come to take them home (King James Bible,1769/2017, John 14:1-3). Christians believe that the dead will be resurrected, and they shall be judged according to their deeds on earth. Those found to be sinners will be sent to hell to burn forever, and those who are righteous will be welcomed in heaven, where they will sit with God (King James Bible,1769/2017, Revelation 20:15).

From the above analysis, it is conclusive that the two religions share few similarities compared to the differences. Buddhist accept the idea of afterlife but not in heaven and hell, while Christians believe in heaven and earth. Buddhists allow the mixing of their traditions with other religions, but Christianity does not. In terms of rituals, the Christians do not indulge in such, but Buddhists engage in traditions when offering their gifts to Buddha. On the issue of suffering, the two religions view the matter differently. As in Christianity, suffering is inflicted by God to test Christians, but in Buddhism, suffering is considered something that one does not need. Thus, the two religions are distinct from each other in terms of the afterlife, suffering, and rituals.

References

Bidwell, D. R. (2018). When one religion isnt enough: Hinjews, Buddhist Christians, and? other spiritually fluid people. Beacon Press.

Hall, M. E. L., Shannonhouse, L., Aten, J., McMartin, J., & Silverman, E. J. (2018). Religion-specific resources for meaning-making from suffering: Defining the territory. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 21(1), 7792. Web.

King James Bible. (2017). Cambridge University Press.

Willard, A. K., Baimel, A., Turpin, H., Jong, J., & Whitehouse, H. (2020). Rewarding the good and punishing the bad: The role of karma and afterlife beliefs in shaping moral norms. Evolution and Human Behavior, 41(5), 385396. Web.

Abstract

The term religion is used to refer to the approach that human beings give to their spirituality as provided by their beliefs, symbols, narratives, and practices on a supernatural figure. Human beings express religious inclination through several ways; some of which include prayers, rituals, and music. There are different types of religions, varying far and wide but at the same time having some commonalities cutting across all of them. These different types of religious practices can be compared or contrasted in terms of their individual laws, lifestyle, ethics, traditions, mythology, and history (Brodd, 2003, 23-25.). The term is used in an overall sense to give reference to a shared conviction among a group of individuals as far as specific behaviors are concerned. This research paper will give some of the aspects common between Judaism and Buddhism as well as the areas where they have ideological and principle differences.

The Differences and Similarities between Judaism and Buddhism in Relation to Their Origination, Foundation, Beliefs, Rituals, and Major Prophets

Judaism

This is the Abrahamic religion; Abrahamic in the sense that it recognizes Abraham as the head Patriarch of their faith. The Judaism sacred text (The Old Testament of the Bible) holds that Judaism started after the covenant between God and Abraham in Circa 2000 BCE, which made Abraham ahead Patriarch. Two other patriarchates are also recognized in this religion is Isaac and Jacob. Their teachings follow the laws (The Ten Commandments) which they believe were given to Moses by God on Mt. Sinai (Gen. 20-NKJV). The holy book of Judaism (The Old Testament-as the Christians refer to it) is known as the Tanakh by the Jewish. The book is divided into three parts; the Torah, the Neviim, and the Ketuvim all making a total of 39 books. These three divisions are where the Jews draw guidelines by which they are required to live by within the society. The head of a Judaism religious organization is called a Rabbi. Some of the beliefs under this religious culture about God (their supreme being) include; He exists, He is Incorporeal, Eternal, One and he knows everyones needs. They also believe in the coming of the Messiah, Resurrection theory, and that the good deeds will be rewarded while the bad will be punished when the earth finally comes to an end.

Buddhism

Buddhism was first established in Northern India by Lord Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama) in the 6^th Century BCE. So far, it is the Fourth-Largest religious group in the World with a population of 365 million followers (6% of the worlds population). They refer to their spiritual leader as the Buddha and pray in a Synagogue. Buddhist base their teachings on the Siddhartha Gautama Principles who were their head Buddha and the founder of Buddhism. It is believed that through Gautamas awakened knowledge, he managed to teach the Buddhists the true meaning of nature and how to live in harmony among themselves with good conduct and moral behaviors&by so doing, Buddhists considered him as a savior who delivered them from their uncertainty and sufferings. Buddhism is most common among the Asian countries where it first originated, but lately, the culture has spread and is found all over the world (McFarlane, 2001).

Findings in (McFarlane 2001.) report that there was a time when Gautama came across a rotting corpse, a deceased man, an ascetic, and a very old man; he then came to realize how the society was full of evils and misfortune and decided to make these four scenarios the Buddhists Principles known as the Four Sights. It is these four sights that drove him into abandoning the royal life that he had all along enjoyed for 29 years in the palace and Instead he sought a spiritual quest which led him to being the spiritual leader of Buddhists.

To the Buddhists, Devotion to their beliefs is an integral and vital part of their worship. They do this by either bowing, giving offerings, chanting religious texts, and going on pilgrimage. This set of religious groups also have guiding ethics which involves adherence to purity indeed, an insult free speech, and purity in thought; these acts are believed to be able to promote peace and stability to their community. The Buddhists have drawn eight basic rules retraining their faithful from indulging into. The Buddhist faithful are advised to shun any act of violence, theft, immorality, lying, dancing, luxury, eating at the wrong time, and drugs

Similarities

Despite the variance, these two religious groups share some concepts of beliefs; for instance, the belief that there is no need for a sinless Savior to lift man out of sin&Jesus is given no divine recognition in both Buddhism and Judaism, they also share the way they view the ethics of reciprocity, i.e. the rules and regulations that, govern human behavior towards one another in both Buddhism and Judaism are the same, belief in the existence of another life after death and finally is the common belief in the power of prayer.

Differences

While Judaism believes in praying and fasting to strengthen their faith in God, the Buddhists on their side believe that such practices of physical molestation like fasting, holding ones breath, do not have any spiritual benefit. They instead embrace meditation, which they call The Middle Way -a compromise position between the two extremes of self-motivation and self-indulgence. Contrary to Judaism who has the Old Testament of the Bible as their religious text, the Buddhists have no specific central text to which they make their religions reference. Most of their teachings are based on a more scholastic approach not spiritual&but a consensus is on the offing to synchronize the message in all the Buddhist available texts so that out of them a single text can be formed to unify the religion (Pascal 2001).

Another notable difference between the Buddhists and Jews features in the belief in reincarnation, a concept that Jews wholly refute. Buddhists believe that once a person dies he is reborn several cycles; where he may reappear in entities different to the former self, thus there is no permanent extinction. In this context, Judaism holds it that the true believers who are righteous will resurrect and live an eternal life when the Messiah comes, while the evil will burn in hell. Some other divergent views by the two religious groups are as follows; To the Buddhists, there is no such thing as the Garden of Eden, the Flood during Noah times, and the end of the world&contrary to Judaism. Further, it is revealed that the Buddhist teachings are Non-Theists unlike the teachings of all other religious practices, including Judaism that teaches the belief in one Supreme God. Questions have been raised to this effect on whether Buddhism is really a religion or just a group of individuals seeking enlightenment. These teachings by the Buddha are also not based on the doctrines as with Judaism, but are focused on deeds and practice&they teach only what is seen executable by man, while Judaism stress on belief and mastery of the Ten Commandments.

Conclusion

This paper has conclusively illustrated that regardless of the religious inclination of an individual, all human beings are the same and they are seeking a common thing in religion. That is to try to find a balance point between natures sharp point definition of matters and the several meaningless generalities in life. All religious groups, particularly the ones that have just been discussed above are geared to monitor the behavior, values, and morals of their members through a set of religious laws/doctrines. From the revelations of this research paper, it can also be deriver that the sole reason that drove people to start religions was the belief that there exists some life after death so as to justify the benefit of good actions.

References

Brodd Jefferey. (2003). World Religions. Winona, MN: Saint Marys Press.

Judaism 101: an online encyclopedia of Judaism, covering Jewish beliefs, people, places, things, language, scripture, holidays, practices and customs. (2009). Web.

Pascal Boyer. (2001). Religion Explained: The Evolutionary Origins of Religious Thought. Basic Books.

Stewart McFarlane in Peter Harvey, ed. (2001). Buddhism. Continuum.

The teachings of Siddhartha Gautama. (2009). Web.

Buddhism monastic orders are the oldest types of institutionalized monasticism and Buddhisms essential organizations. Buddhist religious organizations began thousands of years ago, during the time of Shakyamuni Buddha, in the Indus Valley culture. As they were known, the nuns and nuns-sangha were traveling knights-errant, as this was the livelihood of spiritual workers at the time. Following the Buddhas death, the number of monasteries increased dramatically. Textual and archaeological evidence suggests the establishment of multiple monasteries in the Rajagriha region and the ultimate creation of vast monastic institutions in northern India that accommodated hundreds of permanent monks. This article was written with the help of the book called Life as a Buddhist Nun.

There is no centralized entity in Buddhism, and various types of practice and theory have evolved. Theravada in Southeast Asia and Sri Lanka, Dharmaguptaka in East Asia, Mulasarvastivada in Tibet, and the Himalayan area are the surviving Vinaya systems that regulate monastery life today. Worshipers are required to serve in various roles within the community of believers. First of all and foremost, they are required to uphold the teaching and practice that has come to be recognized as Buddhism. They are also intended to provide a cheerful illustration for the public and act as an area of virtue for lay adherents, enabling men and females to acquire merit by donating gifts and assistance to the monks. Monks and nuns are supposed to live an uncompromising life centered on the study of Buddhist theory, mindfulness, and adherence to the excellent moral character in exchange for the laitys assistance. The Buddhist society has frequently questioned the relative merits of concentration versus study. Many people maintained contact with their biological families.

Monastic activities differ greatly depending on where they are practiced. This can be traced in part to variances in scriptural and doctrinal traditions obtained in various regions of the Buddhist world. Furthermore, most monastic organizations have made local adjustments to cultural, geographical, and climatic constraints to facilitate monks assimilation into surrounding people and guarantee that monks live securely and appropriately. Monks, for example, are authorized to possess and use additional garments not stipulated in the scripture in frigid areas. Monks more typically hire a culinary crew of nuns or lay adherents who are accountable for providing lunches for the community in regions where begging rounds are impractical. For example, monks of the Theravada tradition continue to perform the ancient practice of asking for alms whenever feasible. Confucian beliefs forbade beggars in East Asia, leading to many institutions cultivating their food and hiring monks as cooks.

The second book, called Buddhist Vow, complements well the narrative of the book about the life of Buddhists and tells about the rules of their life. This work tells about how Buddhist monks lived and how their religion was born. Throughout the narrative, the reader is immersed in the daily life of a monk and, little by little gets to know their way of life and how they developed the rules of the monks. Buddhist religious orders are the earliest kinds of organized monasticism and essential Buddhist institutions. Most monastic institutions have developed local adaptations to cultural, geographical, and climatic limits to assist monks absorption into surrounding populations and ensure that monks live safely and responsibly. This work allowed me to get acquainted with another culture in such a way that I could feel their way of life and imagine how this faith was born. I want to recommend everyone get acquainted with this culture, as it might be of interest to many people.

Abstract

This paper outlines an explicit view on the following diverse faiths in regard to healthcare provision: Native American spirituality, Buddhism, and Sikhism. It also elaborates on the spiritual perspective on healing as presented by the three faiths. The various ways of healing are also elaborated. These include meditating, trusting on healers, and praying among others. The perceptions of the healthcare providers and those that are cared for in reference to their diverse faiths are also addressed. The paper addresses the concerns of those cared for whether faith or healing is important. Secondary sources of data played a vital role in the extraction of information based on the Christian philosophy of faith compared to these three diverse faiths.

Introduction

Healthcare providers encounter different people with diverse faiths when providing health care to patients. Therefore, they need to understand the roles of religion in providing healthcare services. It is evident that the diversity of faith in different people should be appreciated by all practitioners. The patients should also appreciate the religious background of the practitioners attending them. After analyzing the teachings of these faiths, the healthcare providers should be able to handle patients during the entire career.

Native American spirituality

The Native Americans do not consider spirituality as a religion even though they believe in spirits. They believe in spiritual healing. These people believe that their healing processes depend on the animal offerings, the use of herbs, the power of prayer, and the spirits that live among them. This conviction is different from many faiths in the world.

On their spiritual healing, these people believe that a person is healed physically only when his/her spirit is healed. In this light, they have special people who perform the function of a medicine-person. They argue that healing arises from ones harmony with his/her body and the entire soul and mind. Healing is not effective until one believes that it is possible to be healed. This means that anybody who seeks physical healing must be attended by the spiritual healer prior to the physical healing. This shows how their belief in spiritual healing plays a great role in their physical treatment (Prieto, 2008).

The Native Americans also believe in prayers before they use herbs to cure diseases. They have spiritual helpers who intercede for them. This means that the spiritual helpers provide them with guidance and wisdom. Their totems provide energy, courage and wisdom to their spirits.

In the Native American, all these aspects of healing are clearly seen as contrary to those of other faiths including Christianity as they turn to God in all matters pertaining to health. Consequently, Native Americans give the healthcare providers a hard time during the treatment. This is due to their strong belief in spiritual cleansing before physical healing.

Buddhism

Buddhism is not only based on doctrines but also on spiritual practice. There are several fundamentals beliefs that are acceptable by the Buddhists. They are referred to as the Four Noble Truths (Side & Thupten, 1997). According to Side and Thupten (1997), these noble truths touch on the existence and the cause of suffering. The two notable truths are meditation and care about any living creature. Some Buddhists believe that people who become ill are those who are not focused. They believe that whenever diseases attack them, they can only be cured through meditation and use of herbs. Buddhists work harder in times of illness since they believe that their spiritual growth comes through struggle. Birth control measures are acceptable, but abortion is regarded as killing. They criticize modernization of the health systems, such as the use of modern Intensive Care Units (ICUs), and believe that these systems are ill-suited for their patients.

Since Buddhists believe in meditation (Ospina, 2009) and herbs as the only cure to their diseases, a Christian care provider will have a difficult time handling such patients. Prescription of western medicines to them is unacceptable since they believe that the drugs will weaken their immune systems. Sick believers require a quiet place to meditate. This means that a health provider taking care of the patients should avoid noise and harsh lights.

Buddhists believe that peace of mind to meditate and administering herbs to boost their immunity are the most important aspects during healthcare services. This implies that they only value the work of healthcare providers from a religion giving them what is acceptable. Since Buddhists believe that sickness and death are inherited in life itself, they appreciate the truth about any diagnosis conducted by healthcare providers. Therefore, they accept all the medical examination results, prognosis, and treatment effects.

The healthcare providers who attend to patients irrespective of faith have received numerous criticisms from various religions. Some patients appreciate the work of such people while others perceive them as hypocrites. It is upon the healthcare providers from different religions, such as Christianity, to accept such patients.

Sikhs

This faith was founded by Guru Nanak Dev of India and believes in God alone. The fundamental beliefs of Sikhism are sincerity, sharing with the poor, helping others, independence and meditation (Grant & Mansell, 2008). They believe that one can become very close to God through reincarnation. Sikhs believe that having uncut hair is a clear indication of spirituality.

They value Western medicine as well as herbs. They are against the use of illegal drugs, alcohol and cigarettes (Grant & Mansell, 2008). Sikhs believe that these drugs will make them live a different life rather than that of Gods way.

Sikhs strongly believe in prayers. They know that Gods will is the key thing in their healing. This is a similar belief to that of Christians who also believe in prayers to God in times of illness.

The Sikhs have a different approach on how they are served by the healthcare providers. A Sikh avoids any cure that requires the elimination of body hair (Grant & Mansell, 2008). Sikhs also share some beliefs with the Christians. They both allow blood transfusion. Any attempt by the healthcare providers to get any information concerning sexual issues of a patient may not be possible among Sikh believers. They consider such issues as very private to be shared with anyone. Abortion, which is considered evil by Buddhists, is permitted in Sikhism during incidents of medical requirement.

The food that Sikhs should eat is also a factor to be considered by the practitioners (Grant & Mansell, 2008). The healthcare providers should also know the importance of the three books of prayer. For instance, the books should not be placed near a dustbin or under other material placed on it.

The nurses should understand the Sikhs 5 Ks which are; Kesh-uncut hair, Kara-a steel bracelet, Kanga-a wooden comb, Kaccha-cotton small, and the Kirpan-a steel sword. This will enable them attend to Sikhs with ease. Surprisingly, Sikhs prefer healthcare providers based in hospitals recognized by Guru Nanaks as their faith will be recognized in such hospitals. However, this does not imply that they will not accept medical practitioners from other faiths.

Conclusion

This analysis depicts a strong belief that healthcare providers have experienced difficulties when ensuring proper performance of their duties. However, the roles of religion in societies must be appreciated. Their most important attribute is that all advocate for healthy living. Therefore, the healthcare providers should be trained in all aspects of religion before they start practicing.

References

Grant, N., & Mansell, D. (2008). A guidebook to religious and spiritual practices for people who work with people. New York: I Universe.

Ospina, M. (2009). Meditation practices for health: State of the research. Darby, PA: Diane Publishing.

Prieto, E. (2008). Home health care provider: A guide to essential skills. New York: Springer Pub. Co.

Side, D., & Thupten, G. (1997). The four noble truths: fundamentals of the Buddhist teachings. London: Thorsons.

Comparison of Kübler-Ross, Job, and Buddhist stages of grieving

According to Kübler-Ross (1969), there are five phases of grieving and they include; denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. The author indicates that grieving occurs as a result of loss and it is an inevitable phase in life (Kübler-Ross, 1969). The author also recognizes the fact that the five phases of grieving do not necessarily manifest in the same order in everyone. The denial stage is temporary and characterized by doubt and shock after learning that a loved one is dead. Specifically, people try to deviate from the reality of the situation. In the ‘anger’ stage, people begin to comprehend the reality of the situation. The anger can be aimed at God, objects, family, friends, or strangers. Emotionally, the bereaved members may also be angry at the dead person for leaving them. The bargaining stage involves feelings of hopelessness and despair. Specifically, the bereaved wish that the disease could have been diagnosed sooner or better care could have been provided for their loved one when they fell ill. The depression phase can either be characterized by sadness and regret or psychological preparation to separate from a loved one after burial. Lastly, the acceptance stage encompasses preparing to move on without the presence of a loved one. In some instances, the bereaved can take years to finally accept the loss of a family or friend.

The story of job is found in the old testament in the bible. Job was wise and devoted to God (Verhey, 2011). He lost his property and all his children in one day following a natural calamity. He refused to be angry at God and chose to worship and accept his loss. Based on this story, Job did not go through the bargaining phase as he understood that God had better things in store for him. In Buddhism, followers do not view death as the end of an individual’s life (Kowalski, 2005). It is believed to be the end of the physical body and beginning of a new spiritual life. The Kisa Gautami parable in Buddhism presents a good example of how the followers should deal with grief. Kisa Gautami was a wealth woman whose son died following an illness. When she went to Buddha for assistance on how to deal with the grief, Buddha told her to go borrow five mustard seeds from families that had not been affected by death in the past. However, she discovered that all the families she visited had experienced loss at some point. She then accepted death as an unavoidable part of life and stopped grieving. Therefore, she went through denial and anger before she could accept that her son was dead.

Compare the relationship between job and the above grieving models and examples

Most of the stages described by Kübler-Ross did not manifest in Job’s case. After the loss, Job accepted the situation as true and began lamenting over what had happened (Verhey, 2011). He did not go through the denial phase as he kept on praising God for the loss. The second stage involved praise and Worship to God. This was contrary to Kübler-Ross’s view that people often blame God for their loss. Later, Job displayed silence in an effort to contemplate on the loss and wait upon God. However, the silence was not characterized by anger. Moreover, he never questioned God for taking his possessions away. His last stage in grieving was enlightenment where Job understood the meaning of his grief. He learnt that God is the giver of life and death was in His hands. Later, God gave Job new possessions and family as a reward for his perseverance. Generally, Job’s story is an example of how Christians should deal with grief. The Buddhist point of view of grief is closely related to Job’s experience. In both religions, followers believe that there is a higher power that controls life and death.

Preferred method of handling grief

Grieving is a difficult part of life that everyone has to go through in life. I believe that the stages of grief are dependent on the circumstances surrounding the loss of a loved one. Based on my personal view, there should be four stages of grief that are different from Kübler-Ross’s model. First, a bereaved person should face their feelings and try to accept the reality. However, this can only be possible through adequate counseling by other family members or professional staff. Second, an individual should express their feelings in a constructive way. Kübler-Ross (1969) indicates that people tend to direct their anger to others during the grieving process. Having a supportive network of family members and friends is vital in promoting positive actions after the death of a loved one. Third, a bereaving person should remember to look after his or her physical health during the process. This is due to the fact that life has to continue after a loved one is dead and buried. Lastly, a person has to analyze the situations that may trigger the feeling of loss in the future. The current research has not changed my view of grief as different people experience it differently. Moreover Kübler-Ross does not seem to recognize the impact of counseling in dealing with grief.

References

Kowalski, K. (2005). Death and Grief: A Personal, Psychological, and Buddhist Perspective. Web.

Kübler-Ross, E. (1969). On death and dying. New York: Scribner.

Verhey, A. (2011). The Christian art of dying: Learning from Jesus. Michigan: William B. Eardmans Publishers.