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In our experience, most individuals who assert that ‘Buddhism is one’ are generally not well informed or are secret (or in some cases open) advocates of ‘hippyism’! Accordingly, the preferred scholarly position appears to be that there are ‘many Buddhisms’. In terms of the superficial form that Buddhism assumes within a particular culture, time, and geographic region, this assertion is perfectly true. For example, Theravada Buddhism is prevalent throughout South East Asian countries (e.g., Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Burma) and places emphasis on following the original word of the historical Buddha. Mahayana Buddhism, which originated several hundred years after Theravada Buddhism, is prevalent throughout East Asia (e.g., Japan, Taiwan, Korea, and Vietnam) and places emphasis on compassionate activity and the non-dual or empty nature of phenomena.
Buddhism - What It Is and Is Not, 2020
Confusion If there is one thing that marks the Age in which we live, it is confusion. “What do you mean? I’m not confused.” “How can we be confused when we have the Internet?” Despite the fact that humankind has more information at its fingertips than any other time in history, how is it that people seem to know less…really know less? In some respects, the Internet contributes to confusion due to the glut of information that is not consistent, and this includes information about what the World calls “Buddhism.” This paper does not seek to expose confusion with respect to the state of the World in terms of its political aspects or even the psychological characteristics of confusion. Rather, this paper seeks to provide a clear and basic understanding of what the World refers to as Buddhism; what Buddhism is, and specifically what it is not. This paper is for those who have an interest in the teachings of the Buddha; for those who consider that they have been practitioners for a long time, and for many who have yet to be exposed to the teachings. Perhaps, in some small way, this article may help to re-align some common concepts. The purpose of this paper is not to re-hash or reiterate a bunch of definitions, rules, doctrines or policies. Rather, the goal of this paper is to provide the essence, the flavor, a milieu, of the teachings of the Buddha without the conceptual overtones or shades that support common concepts and beliefs about what it means to learn and live the teachings of the Buddha. Learning and living the teachings of the Buddha does not make you a Buddhist, because truly, there is no such thing in reality. “Buddhist” is a concept, nothing more. Even to say that what the Buddha taught is a philosophy or a tradition, is conceptual, and one must live it to truly realize this. The teachings of the Buddha contain the possibility that if one seriously dedicates their lives to living how life ought to be lived, as ascribed in the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Noble path, then there is the probability that such a person will completely eradicate their suffering, birth and death. If you randomly ask ten people what they believe Buddhism is, you will likely get ten different responses. However, the one common response you will almost always get, is that it is a religion. However, for those who have a more than cursory understanding of the teachings knows that what the Buddha taught is not about Buddhism. Quite the contrary. The Buddha did not teach Buddhism—not by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, it is likely that the Buddha would not be in concert with what today is called Buddhism.
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Review of book edited by David L. McMahan, Routledge: London and New York, 2012, xiv + 329 pp. ISBN 978 0 415 78014 8, US$125.00 (cloth); ISBN 978 0 415 78015 5, US$39.95 (paperback).
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