Buddhism and Judaism Essay

In this paper I will talk about the history, beliefs and traditions from two different religions. The western religion of Judaism and the eastern religion of Buddhism are the two religions, these two religions have some similarities and some contrasts but they also share some of their own beliefs. Buddhism is the way of life on ending suffering achievable through human’s endeavor. On the other hand,† Buddhism is one of the world’s oldest and most significant religions and it has spread though almost all of Asia. Buddhism was founded 500 years before Christ (BC) and was the first major religion in the world† (Prof. Barker PowerPoint). Its creator was a young prince from India named Siddhartha Gautama† (Molloy pg. 126). On the other hand, the Buddhism religion story began when â€Å"Siddhartha mother Queen Maya had a dream, on a night of the full moon. On that night of the full moon Queen Maya had supernatural dream about a special being known as the Buddha. The dream was about the Buddha being reborn as a human, the Buddha was going to be reborn as the child she was about to have Buddha. When Siddhartha Gautama was born, Maya felt ill after giving birth to Siddhartha and died a few days later†( Molloy pg. 127) On the other hand, when Siddhartha was born they noticed that he had promising sign of a great human being. â€Å"The mark that Siddhartha had mainly means that he will become a Buddha or a world emperor. His father was quite happy with the idea that he could become a world emperor. On the other hand, his father was try to prevent him from becoming a spiritual leader, by keeping him always from things that might send him into a religious direction Siddhartha was kept in one or another of their three palaces, and was prohibited from experiencing much of what ordinary folk might consider quite commonplace. He was not permitted to see the elderly, the sickly, the dead, or anyone who had devoted themselves to spiritual practices. Only beauty and health surrounded Siddhartha† (Video notes of Buddha part 1). Additionally, Siddhartha grew up and he trained in the arts of war. He married when he was 16 years old. But as Siddhartha continued living in the comfort of his palaces, he grew rising restless and curious about the world beyond the palace walls. He finally insisted that he be allowed to see his community and his lands but his father agreed that Siddhartha should still not see the kind of suffering. But one day Siddhartha violated his father rules and visited a close city and he observed the pain of ordinary life. He saw and was moved by what are called the four passing sights what is known as the four noble truths† (Molloy pg. 128). On his journey Siddhartha saw an old man and he learned the process of ageing and that there no stopping ageing. The second sight was when Siddhartha saw a sick man and he learned that everyone could get sick. The three sight that he saw was a dead body and he learned that everyone must die and suffering in life. The fourth sight was when he saw a monk and he learned that they give everything up just so they could end suffering. When Siddhartha return back to his palace he saw his new born son and his wife. He was thinking about the horrible things that he saw outside the palaces, Siddhartha wanted to find out his own answers to life suffering, so he abandoned his family†( video note of Buddha part 2).. Siddhartha went on a journey to find the answers of suffering, by using meditation and fasting and one day Siddhartha saw a musician fixing his guitar, he saw the guitar must be in the middle so the guitar could sound well. He decided he must follow the middle way; he had no idea how he could reach the middle way. In fact, Siddhartha had been traveling for six years and has experience suffering but he still couldn’t find the way to enlightenment. Siddhartha sat under a tree and told himself that he will not leave until reaching enlightenment (video note of Buddha part 3). † Bring the time Siddhartha spend under the tree, he found the prescription to reach Enlightenment and Nirvana that is called The Four Noble Truth (video note of Buddha part 4) The Four Noble Truth are chain about life (1) suffering exists; (2) it has a cause; (3) it has an end; and (4) there is a way to attain releases from suffering† (Michael Molloy pg. 34). Siddhartha was 35 year old when he past the four Janice to reach Enlightenment and Nirvana. Buddha dead by an illness called food poisoning at the age of 80 (video note of Buddha part 5). The religion of Buddhism is still practice in this day. Also Buddha’s teachings were not recognized until several years ago after his death. On the other hand, Judaism is also a system of life, but it focuses on interpersonal behavior and taking routine activities and educational them to something special. According to an overview of Jewish history, was created around 2000 before Common Era (BCE). Moses was one of the leaders of the Israelites, chief the Israelites out of the slave detention occurring in Egypt. On the other hand, Moses received the Law of God on Mount Sinai afterwards. In addition, the Israelites were direct to the promised-land by Joshua in which Samuel assisted in the construction of the kingdom and the new king becoming Saul. Also, Jerusalem was generated by King David while King David’s son, King Solomon had the first temple construct in Jerusalem after King David’s death. The temple was smashed in the70 Common Era (C.  E) â€Å"which brought about the end of the temple-based ceremonial religion and its community spreading of the Jewish individuals all through the world until 1929-1940s when the Holocaust was created† (Molloy pg. 290). On the other hand, the beliefs of the Judaism individuals start with 13 fundamental beliefs that have been accepted for several centuries such as: 1). God exists, 2). God is one and exceptional, 3). God is spiritual,4). God is perpetual, 5). Prayer is to be directed to God alone and to no other, 5). The words of the prophets are true, 6). Moses was the supreme of the prophets, and his prophecies are correct, 7). The Written Torah and Oral Torah were given to Mose, there will no other Torah, 8). God knows the thoughts and deeds of men, 9). God will recompense the good and discipline the wicked, 10). The Messiah will come, 11). His dead will be raise from the dead. 12). The belief of a Buddhist individual begin with an individual going through a cycle of birth, life, and death, this cycle is measured to be reincarnation and can occur many times until the individual resigned his or her needs and his or her self obtaining a status of nirvana. video note of Judaism). On the other hands, Buddhist individuals do not believe in a specific God, prayer, or the obligation for a savior, or eternal life after passing away. After the dead of Buddha, Buddhism has incorporated with local sacrosanct ritual traditions, viewpoints, and customs as the religion extended through Asia. On the other hand, an individual does not have to read the Tipitaka from beginning to end to be familiar with the four noble truths, which are: 1). There is pain, 2). There is reason for suffering 3).  There is termination of suffering 4). There is path leading to the cessation of pain ( Molloy pg. 134). As comparing Buddhism and Judaism several differences occur. For example, the belief that there is only one creator or God is by Jewish religion is not shared with Buddhist religion. Another difference is in the Doctrine that each respective religion follows, Jewish persons follow the Torah and Talmud as with the Buddhist persons following the Tipitaka. Both doctrines are significantly different within the teachings. An additional difference between the two religions is Judaism’s principle to life is to be submissive to God whereas Buddhism’s principle to life is to stop the persistent cycle of reincarnation and obtain Nirvana. On the other hand, Buddhism and Judaism have some similarities. For example, both religions have an authoritarian system that should be pursued but not required. In addition some similarities between Judaism and Buddhism are that Judaism follows the Ten Commandments whereas Buddhism follows the Eightfold Path, which is parallel to the Ten Commandments. Both religions also have structure created for worship their belief; however, their buildings have different names, Jewish individuals name their places of worship synagogues and Buddhist individuals, names their places of worship temples. Judaism and Buddhism individuals have some contrasts. For example, Judaism is a dietary support religion, they believe that a person has one life and they should live to the fullest, using that time to perfect the world. They do not focus on the eternal life, and in fact has no set doctrines concerning the eternal life. On the other hand, the Buddhism has no role for deity in accomplishing, they has no a set of right or wrong behaviors just suggestions, enlightenment is attained by individual endeavor and they believes in the reincarnation (Molloy, pg. 178). On the other hand, one of the Judaism traditions is the Bar/Bat Mitzvah; this tradition takes places when a young individual turns 13 for boys or 12 for girls. It is an event that takes place acknowledging he or she has taken the responsibility to continue to follow Jewish law and has become part of the adult Jewish population. In addition, the Jewish community has several holidays, but they are only 11 that are considered to be important in Judaism. The first was â€Å"the Passover, this holiday begins on the fifteenth day of the Jewish month of Nissan, also known as March/April; this holiday is referred to the walk of God over the houses of Jewish community as he was slaying the firstborn of Egypt also this holiday lasts seven days. During this holiday the community cannot eat grains such as: oats, barley or wheat, but they can eat unleavened bread† (Molloy pg. 04). Also, during these holidays they clean their homes literally from top to bottom. However, their celebration that consists fasting firstborn male children, than there is an exceptional meal made to remind them the objective of the holiday. The second holiday is the Yom Kippur this holiday is the Day of amends. During Yom Kippur holiday the Jewish needs to take a day of fasting and repentance to reconcile their soul with the Creator for t he mistakes they have made in the previous years. However this holiday encourages a Jewish individual to make penitence for the mistakes that he or she has committed against another. In contrast fasting from sunset to the evening previous to the Yom Kippur to sunset the day of Yom Kippur is also an obligation during this holiday. The third holiday is Rosh Hashanah meaning the Jewish New Year. This holiday take place between Labor Day and Columbus Day and this holiday is celebrated for a week long episode and is a manifestation of the past year and a time for resolutions to be made. In addition, the two most important holidays that most Jewish individuals are involving are the Rosh Hashanah and the Yom Kippur. This holiday usually take place twice-a-year (Molloy, pg. 327). On the other hand, Buddhism has different traditions, and they did some celebration too. For example, when an individual is converting in to a Jewish he or she has witnessed and is rising within Judaism. Also Buddhism has three immense branches that are acknowledged today such as: Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana. Each branch appeared after a previous one, also and according to some people’s beliefs that crucial aspects of all three branches existed simultaneously. For example, Theravada means the way of the leaders. It is generally found in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia, and claim to have kept the knowledge, it is not likely. First, they passed down teachings in verbally, but finally they wrote them down. The monks beg for food day by day which means the monasteries are in towns, and come back to help their community. However, Mahayana Buddhists has their own set of scriptures, and various are called sutras. Their belief recommends reaching nirvana, not just the monks. The Mahayana Buddhists also worship bodhisattvas which is the one who have gained enlightenment and so possibly will enter nirvana. They decide to be reborn and to stay in the world to assist other people overcome their problems and gain enlightenment. Also Vajrayana Buddhist generally called Tantric Buddhist, are often linked with Tibetan Monks. They are ritualistic like the Mahayana Buddhists. All traditions distinguish the Buddha as an enlightened teacher who communal his insights in order to assist people end pain in agreement with the laws of Karma. Karma is one of the important principals of Buddhism; it’s believed that all is consistent, by having excellent karma is to be reincarnated into impressive content (Molloy pg. 164). Additionally, the Buddhists believe what you’re reincarnated into, is up to your karma in your ancient times life it might be an animal, insect even; male or female all depends on the karma. Consequently all living organisms have the equal importance; even killing a bug generates bad karma. Also Buddhism states that one may never be truly cheerful with hatred in their hearts. It also meaningful out that hatred comes from lack of knowledge, vengeance, disgust, and vengeance only becomes a never ending cycle, and does no all right in the end (Molloy pg. 138). The Buddhism community has some extraordinary holidays held throughout the year and some of the celebrations are related to the birthdays of Bodhisattvas in the Mahayana tradition or other important dates in the Buddhist calendar. However, the most significant celebration occurs every May on the night of the full moon, when Buddhist all over the world, celebrate the birth, Buddha and his enlightenment and Buddha and his death it has been celebrate over several years ago. It has become to be known as Buddha Day Also other important holidays for the Buddhism Community are the festivals, people go to the local temple or monastery and present food to the monks and take the Five Precepts and listen to a Dharma speak. In the afternoon, they hand out food to the poor to make merit and in the evening connect perhaps in a ceremony of circumambulation as sign and respect for the Buddha (Molloy pg. 146). In Conclusion, as focus on two religious (Buddhism and Judaism) I was able to understand the importance and the role of each religious and how this influences the life of each individual. Also, I think that is very interesting to have knowledge of other cultures and to understand their beliefs, traditions and culture.