Post 6 (week 3)

Post 6 Buddhism

            Smith spent a great deal of time on Buddhism.  Buda was born a wealthy prince, and his father knew that one day he would either become a powerful ruler or a priest.  His father was afraid that he would become a priest so he sheltered him preventing him from witnessing anything but pleasure.  He finally married in is early twenties and started to live I guess the Indian dream.  One day he ventured into the wilderness and stayed there for a long period of time where he became enlightened, and developed his philosophies. 

            There are six things that Buddhism is based off of, that he preached about; he was devoid to authority, devoid to ritual, he skirted speculation, devoted to tradition, intense self-effort, and devoted to the supernatural.  Buddha also preached about four noble truths; the first truth is “life consist of suffering,” the second truth is “the desire of private fulfillment leads to suffering.”  The third truth is “if you over come these selfish cravings you are able to overcome this suffering.”  The fourth truth is “you are able to overcome this suffering through the Eightfold Path.” 

            The Eightfold Path is 1 the right knowledge, 2 the right aspiration.  3 is the right speech, 4 is do not kill, (even animals) do not steel, do not lie, and do not be unchaste.  5 is right livelihood. 6 is right effort, 7 is right mindfulness, and finally the 8 is right absorption. 

            Hinduism and Buddhism have a lot of similarities as well as difference.  One similarity is that Buddhism and Hinduism originated it the same country, India.  One difference is Hinduism developed over a very long period of time while Buddhism was kind of formed in a much shorter time.  Another difference is in Buddhism their was or is not a cast system unlike the Hindu religion.  Another similarity that both religions share is the non-killing of animals they are both very strict vegetarians. 

            Smith believes that Buddhism died out of India because it was very much like Hinduism.  Smith says, “Buddhist teachings came to sound increasingly like Hindu ones”