Relgion 133 Version 3
The Buddhist Tradition
ROY C. AMORE l JULIA CHING
CHAPTER EIGHT
When the continuing-education division of an American university organized a one-day Buddhist retreat, more than a hundred students signed up within a few hours. What is the appeal of Buddhism, especially Buddhist meditation, for Westerners? Why do people who still identify themselves as Christians or Jews flock to Buddhist meditation sessions? What is it that has attracted so many Hollywood celebrities to Buddhism? To attempt to answer these questions, we need to review the 2,500-year history of Buddhism, its varieties, and its spread—first throughout Asia, then throughout the world.
Overview
With his last words to his disciples, ‘Everything that arises also passes away, so strive for what has not arisen,’ the Buddha passed into everlasting nirvana some 2,500 years ago. After a deep enlightenment experience at the age of 35, he had spent the remaining 45 years of his life teaching that all worldly things are transient phenomena, caught up in a cycle of arising and passing away. He set the wheel of dharma (teaching) in motion, established a community (sangha) of disciples, and charged his followers to carry the dharma to all regions of the world. The missionary effort succeeded. Today there are Buddhists in nearly every country, and Buddhism is the dominant religion in many parts of East, South, and Southeast Asia. Buddhism has three main traditions or ‘vehicles’, all of which originated in India. The earliest is Theravada (also known as Hinayana), which spread to Southeast Asia; the second is Mahayana, which became the principal school in East Asia; and the third is Vajrayana, which developed out of Mahayana and became closely associated with the Himalayan region. All three traditions also have followers in Europe and North America. Buddhists say they ‘take refuge’ in the ‘Triple Gem’: (1) the Buddha, (2) the dharma, and (3) the sangha. As they progress along the path to enlightenment, they
ROY C. AMORE l JULIA CHING
CHAPTER EIGHT
When the continuing-education division of an American university organized a one-day Buddhist retreat, more than a hundred students signed up within a few hours. What is the appeal of Buddhism, especially Buddhist meditation, for Westerners? Why do people who still identify themselves as Christians or Jews flock to Buddhist meditation sessions? What is it that has attracted so many Hollywood celebrities to Buddhism? To attempt to answer these questions, we need to review the 2,500-year history of Buddhism, its varieties, and its spread—first throughout Asia, then throughout the world.
Overview
With his last words to his disciples, ‘Everything that arises also passes away, so strive for what has not arisen,’ the Buddha passed into everlasting nirvana some 2,500 years ago. After a deep enlightenment experience at the age of 35, he had spent the remaining 45 years of his life teaching that all worldly things are transient phenomena, caught up in a cycle of arising and passing away. He set the wheel of dharma (teaching) in motion, established a community (sangha) of disciples, and charged his followers to carry the dharma to all regions of the world. The missionary effort succeeded. Today there are Buddhists in nearly every country, and Buddhism is the dominant religion in many parts of East, South, and Southeast Asia. Buddhism has three main traditions or ‘vehicles’, all of which originated in India. The earliest is Theravada (also known as Hinayana), which spread to Southeast Asia; the second is Mahayana, which became the principal school in East Asia; and the third is Vajrayana, which developed out of Mahayana and became closely associated with the Himalayan region. All three traditions also have followers in Europe and North America. Buddhists say they ‘take refuge’ in the ‘Triple Gem’: (1) the Buddha, (2) the dharma, and (3) the sangha. As they progress along the path to enlightenment, they
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