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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
A 7 page exploration of Buddhism and the role sacred text verses ritual has played over time in the religion’s evolution and expression. Bibliography lists 10 sources.
Page Count:
7 pages (~225 words per page)
File: AM2_PPbuddTxtRitual.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
is one of the worlds most complex religions. At the same time, however, it stood as a simplification of worship in Buddhas time. According to Buddhist tradition, Sidhartha
meditated in solitude under the Bo tree, which Buddhists call the tree of wisdom, he is said to have experienced a spiritual awakening known as "the Enlightenment". It was
this Enlightenment which transformed the young man into the Buddha at age thirty-five and which gave the world one of its most fascinating relgions. Even in its earliest manifestation, however,
Buddhism was actually ritualistically streamlined when compared to some of the more prominent religions of the day. Likewise, this religion has no single sacred text. Never-the-less, all Buddhists
share basic beliefs. Hinduism is an excellent example against which to contrast Buddhism. Hinduism, in fact, is more appropriately characterized as a
religion of rituals than is Buddhism. It was also much more representative of social stratification. Hinduism came complete with an elite priesthood who administered a complex theology. It
supported a society in which people were rigidly divided into a system of caste, role, and power. Buddha perceived many faults
with the status quo approach to religion. He consequently proposed radical alternatives advocating individual effort, plain language and simple means, an approach that contrasted greatly with the ritual and
hierarchy of the mainstream religions he rebuffed (Chodron, 2001). Interestingly, Buddha did not claim to be of divine origin nor did he claim revelation from above. Buddha meditated,
but he prayed to no Higher Being (Chodron, 2001). Groothuis clarifies that "Buddhism is horizontal or human-oriented, not vertical or God-oriented" (Groothuis). In Buddhism there is no beginning and no
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