Religion: Buddhism
Buddism - Practices and Beliefs
Critical Terms for the Study of Buddhism by Provides a unique introduction to Buddhism by examining categories essential for a nuanced understanding of its traditions.
- Meditation: Topic Page
Act of spiritual contemplation, practised by members of many religions or as a secular exercise. - Reincarnation: Topic PageBelief that after death the human soul or the spirit of a plant or animal may live again.
- Tantra (Topic Page)Tantric practices use both ritual and meditation to unify the devotee with the chosen deity.
- Buddhist Ethics: Topic PageBuddhist beliefs are governed by the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path, and the Five Moral Precepts (or Eight or Ten Moral Precepts).
- DharmaFrom The Hutchinson Unabridged Encyclopedia with Atlas and Weather Guide
In Buddhism, teaching and scriptures of the Buddha, whose words and principles lead to enlightenment.
Buddism - People and Places
- Buddha: Topic PageReligion and philosophy founded in India c.525 B.C. by Siddhartha Gautama, called the Buddha. There are over 300 million Buddhists worldwide.
- Tibet: Topic PageTibetan Bodyul, Mandarin Xizang, autonomous region (1994 est. pop. 2,300,000), c.471,700 sq mi (1,221,700 sq km), SW China.
- Dalai Lama: Topic PageDalai Lama is the title given to the one who enjoys the highest spiritual rank in Lamaism, a Tibetan form of Buddhism introduced into Tibet in the seventh century A.D.
- India: Topic PageCountry in southern Asia, bounded to the north by China, Nepal, and Bhutan; east by Myanmar and Bangladesh; northwest by Pakistan and Afghanistan; and southeast, south, and southwest by the Indian Ocean.
Buddism - Divisions
- Zen Buddhism: Topic Page
Buddhist sect of China and Japan. The name of the sect (Chin. Ch'an, Jap. Zen) derives from the Sanskrit dhyana [meditation]. - Tibetan Buddhism: Topic PageForm of Buddhism prevailing in the Tibet region of China, Bhutan, the state of Sikkim in India, Mongolia, and parts of Siberia and SW China.
- Pure Land BuddhismA devotional sect of Mahayana Buddhism in China and Japan, centering on worship of the Buddha Amitabha.
- Lamaism (Topic Page)Buddhism of Tibet, Mongolia, and parts of Nepal and northern India; a form of Mahāyāna Buddhism.
- MahāyānaFrom The Hutchinson Unabridged Encyclopedia with Atlas and Weather Guide
One of the two major forms of Buddhism, found in China, Korea, Japan, and Tibet.