Buddhism2

450 B.C.E. to Present**> Theravada mainly on the southern side of Asia. Theravada literally translates into "the teaching of the elders". They learn from the oldest text of Buddhism. The oldest text of Buddhism that is known were believed to be written on palm leaves and stored in baskets. There are 3 baskets that each contain a specific set of rules about the religion. The first one is the Sutta Pitaka which some believe that it is the actual contain the teachings of Buddha. The Vinaya Pitaka is the second book and it lays the foundation and rules for the Monastic community. The final basket, Abhidhamma Pitaka, This is only read by the truly determined scholars. Mahayana is the second main type of Buddhism and literally means the great vehicle. They differ from the Theravada Buddhism because they follow their own text a.k.a. Suttas. This is because they came later than the Theravada Buddhist. Their main difference is that they believe that anyone can achieve enlightenment. This style of Buddhism is mainly found in China and Japan. There are many sects of this specific type of Buddhism. There is Tibetan, Chinese, and Japanese. 
 * Buddhism

Siddhartha Gautama: once was a follower of the hindu religion and prince of present day Nepal until he witnessed three things that changed his life: illness, aging and death. He gave up all the material possessions to attain enlightenment. He reached **Nirvana** (perfect peace and knowledge) under neath the Bodhi Tree. This is where he discovered the four noble truths (the foundation of Buddhism). He believes that every one has infinite number of lives.

Karma: the actions of your present life determines the positive or negative outcome of your next life

Darma: the moral obligation that one must fulfill in there life time.

Nirvana: the state of perfect knowledge and peace. It was established by buddha and is what other followers try to obtain //Right knowledge, Right attitude, Right speeach, right livlihood, Right effort, Right state of mind and right concentration, this is the eight fold path.//
 * The buddhist also strictly fallow the forur noble truths and the 8 fold path... **

__  Four Noble Truths   __ [|1. Life means suffering.] [|2. The origin of suffering is attachment.] [|3. The cessation of suffering is attainable.] [|4. The path to the cessation of suffering.]

The sacred writings:The Tripitaka (called Tipitaka in Pali) is the earliest collection of buddhist writings. Initially, they were just talked about, but were written down by the third century bce. The word means "the three baskets," (tri=three, pitaka=baskets), and refers to the way the texts were first written. The early writing material was long, narrow leaves, which were sewn together on one side. Bunches of these were then stored in baskets. This is a large collection, running 45 volumes in one modern edition. The Mahayana believe in a different set of text. While Mahayana Buddhism reveres the Tripitaka as a holy text, they add to it a total of 2184 sacred writings. Most of these writings go under the name of Sutra. The Sutras were put into writing between the second century bce and the second century ce, during the time the split between Theravada and Mahayana developed. Since there are so many new works, different divisions of Mahayana develop in different directions depending on which Sutras they use and emphasize. Just a few, however, are key to much of Mahayana development and thought. 

**IMPACT:** Buddhism was introduced to Sri Lanka in the third century B.C. from India, where it had been established by Siddartha Gautama three centuries earlier. The powerful Indian monarch, Asoka, nurtured the new comprehensive religio-philosophical system in the third century B.C. Asoka's conversion to Buddhism marks one of the turning points in religious history because at that time, Buddhism was elevated from a minor sect to an official religion enjoying all the advantages of royal patronage. Asoka's empire, which extended over most of India, supported one of the most vigorous missionary enterprises in history. The Buddhist tradition of chronicling events has aided the verification of historical figures. One of most important of these figures was King Devanampiya Tissa. According to the Mahavamsa, Asoka's son and emissary to Sri Lanka, Mahinda, introduced the monarch to Buddhism. Devanampiya Tissa became a powerful patron of Buddhism and established the monastery of Mahavihara, which became the historic center of Theravada Buddhism in Sri Lanka. Legend says Asoka became a Buddhist and converted so many people was because he witnessed a masscre that he was responsible for. This horrble experience made him have pitty in his heart and so he then adopted the Buddhist religon. His great empire spread even thru asia. pressing this new belife every were his kingdom spread. This is also how Buddhism was spread to present day Cambodia.

 The Rise and Decline of Buddhism in India. When Buddhism arose in India in the 6th century B.C.E. it quickly grew into a great religion, due to a multiplicity of reasons. Nevertheless, after several centuries it began to decline, and by the thirteenth century C.E. it had disappeared from its native land altogether.[1] A different set of environmental factors played a part in both the rise and the decline. At its inception, the spiritual climate of India was ideal for the founding of a new religion; Brahmanism had lost its appeal and the alternative ascetic practices that some resorted to were not suitable for the majority of people. Buddhism provided a path to Nirvana that everyone could take, and the innate compassion at the heart of the Buddha’s teachings drew many to it. But the gradual decay of its moral and intellectual standards and the emergence of a new Hinduism, combined with the anti-Buddhist campaigns of the Muslims, it spelledthe end of Buddhism.

The Rise and Decline of Buddhism in Asia.

Buddhism was spread thru Asia a number of ways! Alot of it was oddly enough thanks to the Romans. There silk Road which made it possible for the east and west to trade with one and other also made it possible to spread ideas. Buddhism origanly came from India but now the silk road made it possible for the Far easts brothers to exchang Ideas. The Idea of Buddhism was widley ecxepted in the far east because the Indains had an impact on the Chinese. Also durring this time Asoka the ruler of India now had the oprotunity to send out a loyal monk named Massim Sthavira to spread the word of buddhism to there Eastern brothers. He visited Nepal, China and Bhutan to inform the people. This is primarly how Buddhism was spread to asia. At one point in time Buddhism was even spread to Athens!!! __ Asoka's Spread of Buddhism __

On the other hand in Asia today there has been a wide spread decline of Buddhism. People are not just stoping there belifes the new generation just is changing and so are the ways of the east. Atleast for China, most of the children live in the schools and start school at 7:30 then get out at 5:30 then they have night classes that end at 9:30 on top of that they still have tons of home work.With one day off of school a week there just simpily is not enough time to really practice a faith. There still is Millions of Chinese that are but with this new generation numbers are begining to change.

For additional information check these places out

http://www.sacred-texts.com/bud/

http://www.religioustolerance.org/buddhism.htm

http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/religion/buddhism/buddhism.html

Knowledge collected from:

Robinson, B.A.. "Buddhism, based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama." 08 May 2008. Religious Tolerance. 1 Feb 2009 .

Boeree, C. George. "An Introduction to Buddhism ." 2000. Metta Sutta. 1 Feb 2009 .