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GROUP NAME: Buddhism
FOUNDER: Siddhartha Gautama (aka The Buddha/Awakened One). The majority of Buddist would agree that Siddhartha lived until he was 80 years old. The difference of opinion comes when Siddhartha died. Followers in Southeast Asia put his death at 533 B.C. While others believe that he died in 483 B.C. Followers of Gautama believe hold to the view that the year he entered into Final Narvana is the beginning of their Buddhist calendar.
MEMBERS: Different sources put the numbers somewhere around 230-500 million members.
SACRED WRITINGS: Followers of Guatama claim that texts, including 20 from the first century (A.D.) concerning Buddha were found in the eastern Afghanistan/Northern Pakistan region. Then approximately 300 years after the death of Guatama someone wrote down his oral teachings. Some Buddist followers even claim that "true" history starts in India during the time of Buddha. The reason they claim this is because Buddhist and Jain scriptures are the earliest documents that make specific references to rulers and cities of the sixth century (B.C.)
The problem with this though is that Biblical, historical evidence dates further back then 600 B.C.
The scriptures of Buddhists is called the "Tripitaka" which means three baskets. These scriptures contain teachings from Buddha in the 45 years from his enlightenment to his final nirvana.
The three baskets/Three sections are:
Sutra The sutra contains Gautama's discourses.
Vinaya: The Vinaya is writings on Buddhist lifestyle, and also includes the training precepts (pratimoksha).
Abhidharma: The Abhidharma is the orderly presentation of the major thoughts that are presented in the Sutras.
BUDDIST VIEWS:
GOD: One big difference between Hinduism and Buddhism is that Buddhism does not claim to hold to a creator God. But one of the more important Buddist gods (devas) has the name "Brahma"
No single Sutra sits out the entirty of the cosmology of the Buddist Beliefs. But commentaries and writings in the Abhidharma sit out to try and explain.
Buddhist cosmology can be split into two major categories. And within the two categories are subcategories.
Major Category 1.
Spatial Cosmology. This cosmology explains the arrangement of worlds in the universe.
Vertical Cosmology: This teaches that the world exists on many planes. It teaches that the world is not as much of a place as it is the begins which compose it. The world is maintained by the people's karma and if all the people disappear then so does the world.
Within the Vertical Cosmology there are 31 planes. The 31 planes are then divided up into 3 realms (or dhatus) and consist of different types of mentality. They are:
Ārūpyadhātu: Beings born into this category can be considered gods; devas (males) or devis (females). The have no shape nor location, and have no place in a physical cosmology. Within this group there are for sub groups:
> Naivasaṃjñānāsaṃjñāyatana: A spher of neither perception or non-perception. Considered enlightenment
> Ākiṃcanyāyatana: In this sphere the formless beings sit and think how there is "no thing". Considered enlightenment.
> Vijñānānantyāyatana: in this sphere the formless being sit and think on their consciousness.
> Ākāśānantyāyatana: The formless beings in this sphere sit and meditate upon space or extension.
Rūpadhātu: Beings born into this category can be considered gods; devas (males) or devis (females). They do have a body of sorts, but is invisible to the forms in Kamadhatu. Within the Rupadhatu there are four world and within each of the four worlds are four more world. For the sake of space, just the four major worlds in the Rupadhatu will be listed.
> Śuddhāvāsa worlds: Forms in this world do not get into it by any type of merit but are forms already on their way to Arhat-hood (Nirvana). Also the devas in this world predict the coming of the next Buddha. They take the guise of Brahmins and reveal to humans signs on which the Buddha can be recognized.
> Bṛhatphala worlds: Mental state of devas and is characterized by tranquility. There are four stages of the Brhatphala world all hovering at different heights above the earth.
> Śubhakṛtsna worlds: The gods in this world live in a constant state of joy and their bodies radiate light.
> Ābhāsvara worlds: The gods of this world are described as being in a state of joy and crying out in their joy. Their bodies emit flashing lights like lightning.
> Brahmā worlds: This world consists of delight and joy as well as observation and reflection.
Kāmadhātu: Even the majority of this category are gods. But humans would be here too. Buddist teaching will claim that the use of the term gods is not necessarily used the same as other religions. They believe that ones who attain the deva or devi status are just on a more blissful state then humans. Within this world though are four more world:
> Heavens: The worlds within the heavens are filled with gods (devas). Depending on which world the gods live in they could either be 4,500 feet tall
> Worlds of Sumeru: This is a very large peak which rises from the centre of the world, the sun and moon revolves around it. A large number of devas and supernatural beings live here.
> Earthly Realms: There is a lot of information concerning this realm, but the basics of it is where the humans and animals dwell.
> Naraka: This is the realm with the most suffering. A person lands here based on their karma. People when translating it into english call it hell or purgatory.
Major Category 2
Sashasra Cosmology
The Vertical Cosmology explains all the worlds how they are arranged vertically, while the Sashasra one presents how they are arranged horizontally.
THE TRINITY: N/A
JESUS CHRIST: There are different Buddhist views concerning Jesus Christ; depending who you speak to. Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama called Christ an enlightened one (Bodhisattva)
HOLY SPIRIT N/A
VIRGIN BIRTH: N/A
SALVATION: The ultimate goal of a Buddhist is to reach Nirvana. The process though is by means of themselves. There are 6 possible levels a person could fall into based on their Karma:
Deva: the god realm. The problem with this though is they get so comfortable with the "Good life" that they use up all their good karma without continuing on to enlightenment and fall back down to a lower plane.
Asura: This realm is for "demigods". They are a result of bad actions such as jealousy, struggle etc. A person according to Buddhist teaching may end up here, because they had good intentions but did some big mistakes.
Human Being: Being born as a human.
Animal: Someone may become an animal if they were stupid and prejudice in their other life.
Hungry Ghost/Preta Realm: People end up here because of strong possessiveness in another life. In this realm they are always hungry and thirsty.
Naraka Realm: people end up here if they had strong inclinations towards hatred.
Salvation according to Buddist beliefs is based off human action, and the power within you to make a difference in your mental state. Completely contrary to what the Bible teaches.
HEAVEN: There are different levels of enlightenment but the ultimate goal is Nirvana. (more information in Salvation)
HELL: The buddhist does not have the Biblical understanding of what hell is. They feel it is just a plane that can be entered, based on one's karma. It is usually called Naraka.
SIN: They do not hold to the thought of original sin or a wicked heart/corruption.
INSPIRATION/AUTHORITY OF SCRIPTURE: They would not hold the Bible with any authority. It's just a book perhaps written by someone who was enlightened.
THE RAPTURE: N/A
THE SECOND COMING: N/A
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