Continuing on from yesterday’s post regarding Confucianism. Here’s basic outline of Buddhism with a few insights into how Buddhism has influenced practices in Asian-American churches. Again, with thanks to Prof. Rodger Nishioka.
Basic to the beliefs of all forms of Buddhism is the dignity and worth of each living being, repsect and compassion for all of life, and the need for each person to find his or her own path to enlightenment through an understanding of one’s self and the practice of compassionate regard for all others.
Buddhism was founded by Siddhartha Gautama who was born in northern India in 588 BCE to wealth and privilege. At 29-years-old, he abandoned his wealthy heritage and set upon a quest for truth and enlightenment living among the most disadvantaged where he sought to alleviate suffering and seek acceptance.
There is no personal god in Buddhism. The Buddha, whose name means, “the enlightened one,” is regarded not as a god, but as a great teacher who attained enlightenment and demonstrated a path of spiritual awakening and freedom. The Buddha encourages each person to embrace her or his traditional religion. Practices include meditation and mindfulness in everydaylife. Literature includes the sayings of Buddha, the vinyana–the discipline, and the abhidharma–the doctrine. In its various expressions, Buddhism is practiced by about 400 million people. Traditionally, there are three great divisions of Buddhist practice.
Mahayana path Buddhism: dominant in Nepal, Tibet, China, Korea, and Mongolia. Mahayana regards the Buddha as a universal principle and an eternal teaching in the universe.
Hinayana path Buddhism: adheres more closely to the teaching of elders. Hinayana regards the Buddha as a historical figure who died but whose teachings are of value and is concentrated in Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Laos.
Zen Buddhism: developed during the spread of Buddhism from the 5th c. CE to China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam absorbing the elements of Taoism. In Zen, direct intuition of the cosmic void replaces the study of the scriptures, Buddhas, and Bodhisattvas with an emphasis on aesthetics.
Four noble truths:
- All of life is suffering
- The cause of suffering is desire
- Stopping desire will stop suffering
- The Eight-fold path to enlightenment:
- right views
- right intention
- right speech
- right action
- right livelihood
- right effort
- right mindfulness
- right concentration
How has Buddhism influenced practices in Asian American churches?
- Buddhist teachings helped Christian doctrine take hold. For instance, bodhisattvas are similar to Christian incarnation and the love of God in Jesus Christ through sacrifice.
- Buddhist disciplines of prayer, meditation, and love through charity are reinforced in the practices of Christian discipleship.
- The combination of emotions in Pure Land Buddhism (not listed previously, but is characterized by emotional aspect of faith requiring wholehearted devotion and love to Buddha) with Zen Buddhism (self-enlightenment, meditation, self-discipline) means Asians regard faith as an integral unity of emotion and cognition.
I can definitely see some how the “four noble truths” have been baptized in many of our churches. There is still a strong notion of suffering and attribution of suffering to our desires. Although I can’t think of anything else to add to Nishioka’s list of how Buddhism has affected our churches, I have a sneaking suspicion there’s more to this list. Any ideas?