Compare And Contrast Buddhism

Buddhism is a religion to about 300 million people around the world. Its origins began about 2,500 years ago when Siddhartha Gotama, known as Buddha, was enlightened at the age of 35. Due to the wide spread of the Buddhist religion many sub religions, that still adopt most of the original religious concepts, have been created. There are many different types of Buddhism, because the emphasis changes from country to country due to customs and culture. This essay focuses on the two main strands of the Buddhist sub religions, Theravada and Mahayana, and how they provide the opportunity for transformation despite being different in some ways. Quite in particular it will focus on funerals. Although there are significant differences between a funeral
of Buddhist Mahayana and Theravada religion, both provide opportunity for transformation in many ways.
“I am often asked what the difference is between the major strands of Buddhism – Mahayana, Theravada, Vajrayana and Zen.
The answer is that they are like identical cakes with four different icings: on the outside the traditions may look and taste different, but when you go deeply into them, you find the same taste - the taste of freedom” (Ajahn Brahm, 2005). Brahms words, although comparing the religions to cakes, tells us a lot about these sub religions, there so much the same but still different. Whilst they are different in some ways, an example being the goal of the religions, the Mahayana religious goal being the focus of becoming a Buddha, whereas the Theravada goal, is simply achieving a sense of nirvana and freeing themselves from bondage, this being namely samsara, which is the cycle of painful endless rebirth, normally the result of karma in one’s past life. They have some similarities that still connect them firmly to their roots, and to each other. Both the religions accept Siddhartha Gotama, the Buddha, as the teacher. The Four Noble Truths are also exactly the same in both schools; the truth of suffering, the truth of the cause of suffering,
the truth of the end of suffering, and the truth of the path that leads to the end of suffering. The Eightfold Path is exactly the same in both schools. Mahayana and Theravada both rejected the idea of a supreme being who created and governed this world. They also accept the concept of dhamma, cosmic law and order; Anicca, Dukkha, Anatta and Sila, Samadhi, Panna without any difference. These are the most important teachings of the Buddha and they are accepted by both schools. Though there are many similarities, there are a significant amount of aspects that differ the two; from their goals, to their place of worship, some of their practices, their place of origin, their literal meaning and what they wear. But one of their focus similarities, whilst being a major difference between them is their mutual belief in reincarnation. Just in different ways.
In a book written by a scholar named, Walpola Rahula, called What the Buddha Taught, he sums up what happens when you die.
“What we call death is the total non-functioning of the physical body. Do all these forces and energies stop altogether with the non-functioning of the body? Buddhism says No” This brings into light their thought about reincarnation, and how when you die, your force and energy doesn’t die with it, it goes on to manifest and embody other forms, producing re-existence which is called rebirth, which some Buddha’s and nuns claim they can remember. Then when this body isn’t capable of functioning any longer, energies don’t die with it, but continue to take some other shape or form, which we call another life, and so on. Why does rebirth even occur? Rebirth is a result of something known as Karma. Karma is the force that causes us to be born even if we don’t want it, and it also causes us to die even if we don’t want to die. However, in the cycle of birth and death it isnt yourself whos being born again, but its our
karma.

In Buddhism death is a significant and essential stage of life and funeral ceremonies and rites differ between Theravada and Mahayana Buddhists as well as from culture to culture. Mahayana Buddhism is more common in Korea, Japan, China, Taiwan, Mongolia and Tibet. In Japan, pre-funeral events include the "otsuya” which means "transit evening" this is similar to a wake, where loved ones pay their respects to the deceased. Countries in Southeast Asia where Theravada Buddhism is most common, family members show their respect to the deceased by washing their body. The deceased's body is dressed in simple, everyday clothes and placed into the casket. Mahayana, particularly in Japan, ceremonies takes place before the cremation. A small altar is decorated with a framed photo of the deceased and flowers. Funeral attendees pay their respects by paying a fee to the dead and his family before entering into the room. Chanting then takes place led by priests and is then followed by a process called "Nobe no Okuri," which is when the deceased's body is shown for the last time. In Southeast Asia, monks play an important role in funeral ceremonies by leading the funeral rites. The ceremony begins with the chanting of sutras, which can be delivered by monks or loved ones of the deceased. Visitors then pay their last respects to the dead by standing next to the altar, which is usually placed in front of the casket. The casket is then sealed and the body is either buried or cremated. In Japan, the deceased is usually cremated after the funeral ceremony. After the body has been cremated, family members place the bones in an urn with ceremonial chopsticks. A staff member then presses the bones into ash. The family is given the remains along with a cremation certificate. In Southeast Asia, families can either choose to have the deceased cremated or buried. Cremation usually takes place within the first three days, although wealthy families can choose to keep their loved ones in a temple for more than a year to show their love and respect for the dead before the deceased is cremated. In most Mahayana Buddhist-practicing countries, the 49th day of a person passing is celebrated as it marks an important transition within the cycle of life and reincarnation.