The Spread of Buddhism

Buddhism is a big topic in Holcome’s book.  It was the world’s first great missionary religion.  The main ideal of Buddhism is to reach nirvana.  Buddha identified The Four Noble Truths in his first sermon in India:

• Life if suffering
• The cause of our sufferings is our attachment to certain things in this world
• The way to end our suffering is to break those attachments and desires
• Follow the Eightfold Path to proper living in order to break our attachments and end our suffering

If one follows these truths closely, they will reach nirvana.  Many Chinese were skeptical of following the Buddhist ways because they were not sure what would happen after they reach nirvana.  It was known, although not to all, that once one reaches nirvana and ultimately dies, they come back in another peaceful life.  Also, people already contained the Buddhist Nature within themselves.  All they have to do is to be awakened to it, and they will live a peaceful life and afterlife.  These Noble Truths were not closely followed in Chinese Buddhism.  From China, Buddhism spread to Japan and the rest of East Asia.

I feel that one has to be completely involved in the Buddhist ways in order to get anything out of it, but Buddhism is also said to have a negative view of the world and is more a philosophy than a religion.  Although I do not practice Buddhism or any religion that is like it, I enjoyed reading and learning about Buddhism from Holcome and my classmates, and I hope to learn deeper into the subject.