Religion can be defined as “a system of thought, feeling, and
action that is shared by a group and that gives the members an object of
devotion; a code of behavior by which individuals may judge the personal and
social consequences of their actions; and a frame of reference by which
individuals may relate to their group and their universe” (Religion,
2013). The world is made up of many
different religions that share common practices and beliefs with one another
and this paper will examine common characteristics that Buddhism shares with
other religions as well as discuss how Buddhism has responded to challenges in
the modern and what has changed about the roles of women in Buddhism over time.
Buddhism
Buddhism is an ancient religion that originated in India from the
experiences noted by Siddhartha Gautama, a “mortal prince born miraculously to Maya
who was kept from all the evil and misery of the world throughout his youth”
("Siddhartha Gautama," 1996).
Siddhartha was forbidden to leave the royal grounds; however one day he
disobeyed those order given by his father and visited a nearby town where he
witnessed what is known as the four passing sights. The four passing sights were “an old man,
crooked and toothless, a sick man, wasted by disease, and a corpse being taken
for cremation. Then he saw a sannyasin
(a wandering holy man, a renunciate), who had no possession but seemed to be at
peace” (Molloy, 2013 p.125). Once Siddhartha witnessed the four passing sights
he was overcome with feelings that prompted him to leave the kingdom and his
family behind to start on a journey to seek answers to questions pertaining to
human suffering and attaining inner peace.
Common characteristics
Buddhism share with other religions
In Buddhism there is no belief in the existence of divinities
because Buddha believed that human beings are responsible for their own
happiness and suffering based on the way they live their lives; however there
are many common characteristics that Buddhism share with other religions such
as ethical and moral concerns which are detailed in the Eightfold Path broken
down in three sections, wisdom, ethical conduct and mental discipline. According to the Eightfold Path “ethics refer
to the avoidance of non-virtuous deeds, concentration refers to the control of
the mind, and wisdom refers to the development of insight into the nature of
reality” ("Eightfold Path," 2014).
Buddhism just like many other religions encourages individuals to
perform good deeds, avoid malicious acts, and develop a life that promotes
goodness and kind-heartedness that will benefit everyone.
Buddhism responses to
challenges in the modern world
Violence is a challenge that modern faces which can be defined as
“an injurious force exerted to cause damage to people or things. Shaped by a multitude of social, political,
and economic forces with families, neighborhoods, nation-states, and the
broader international community, violence is a complex problem related to
patterns of thinking and behavior” (Finnegan, 2008). Responding to violence and developing methods
on how to deal with violence is a constant subject in Buddhism as one of its
first teachings is against killing and “Buddha’s meditation of the communal
conflict over water resources at the Rohini River all shows Buddhism’s basic
commitment to non-violence and how to respond to violence” (Think Sangha
2002-3, 2003). The Think Sangha is a
group that “uses a Buddhist Sangha model to explore pressing social issues and
concerns” (Think Sangha, 2006). Think
Sangha hold meetings to interact with each other in response “to the violence
they face in their respective regions and fields” (Think Sangha 2002-3,
2003). The objectives the meetings that are held by
Think Sangha is to “deepen the understanding of the nature of violence and how
to respond to it in non-violent ways, specifically from a Buddhist standpoint;
to develop a series of papers based on our conversations and the reflections of
certain key participants to publish as a resource for other Buddhist
non-violent practitioners; and to empower the individual participants to return
to their native regions and deepen their work for peace and non-violence”
(Think Sangha 2002-3, 2003).
The Role of women in
Buddhism
During ancient times in India women were considered to be inferior
to men and their freedom was limited whereas they had no opportunities for
education and they were restrictions placed upon their religious practices. The men were responsible for the women in
India during ancient times which made the women appear to be an unwanted
obligation on the family structure due to the fact that they were considered to
be unqualified to perform religious ceremonies for the well-being of the
deceased parents. Buddhism has evolved over time and so has the roles of women
whereas women are now considered to be equally valuable to society. Buddhism puts much emphasis on the productive
role that women can play as a wife and mother in order to have a successful
family life. The men are no longer
expected to be solely responsible for women because the women now share the
responsibilities of the family structure alongside the men.
Conclusion
Buddhism is a religion that developed from an individual’s
curiosity about the world outside of the kingdom in which he resided with his
family and was expected to govern in the absence of his father. Buddhism does not practice worship of
divinities like most religions; however it does share common characteristics
with most religions such as the promotion of moral and ethical principles that
provide guidance to individuals and communities. In Buddhism individuals are encouraged to be
kind and compassionate for the good of themselves as well as other which is a
method that is encouraged in responding to challenges that the modern world
face such as violence. Although Buddhism originated in India during a time
where women were considered to be inferior to men and they were unable to be
active participants in religious ceremonies, Buddhism does not identify with
any particular gender.
Class Handout
·
Siddhartha Gautama also known as Buddha was a
prince who left his kingdom in search of answers pertaining to suffering and attaining
peace.
·
Buddhism was a religion that originated in India
that is based on the experiences of Siddhartha Gautama during his journey to
seek answers to questions regarding human suffering.
·
The teachings in Buddhism are noted in the
Eightfold path in which those beliefs share common characteristics with many
other religions such as the promotion of moral and ethical behavior.
·
Violence is a challenge that the modern world is
faced with and Buddhist work diligently to encourage individuals to continue to
practice non-violent methods when responding to this challenge.
·
Although women were considered inferior to men
in ancient India, Buddhism does not hold those beliefs because women are
considered to be equally important to society.
