Which Way to the Plain of Enlightenment Essay - 2182 Words

Meditation is defined as continued or extended thought; reflection; contemplation. With this in mind how does meditation become categorized under a school of thought? Meditation is different for every person; however there are ideas that stem from certain places. Two of the largest types of meditation are Buddhist meditation and Christian meditation. These large religions have ways in which they suggest to their members to meditate. With Christianity and Buddhism stemming from different parts of the world, would there origins be the main reason for their differences? Perhaps their teaching would have to do with the way that they teach their members to practice? Whatever the case, their methods have been routed in history and have been†¦show more content†¦He traveled to learn deep meditation and yogic practices. Then after years of trying different methods, while sitting under a Budhi tree, he found pure Enlightenment while meditating. From this point on he would teach to anyone who would follow him. In his eyes all were equal, anyone, man or woman from any class. He also created an order of monks that would help him teach his message to the masses. Those who follow the school of Buddhism understand it as a philosophy, moral code, and/or religion. The main goal is to define the type of suffering that a human has and provide a remedy for it. The teachings are centered around non-violence and compassion. The teachings tie in with meditation being the most important way to achieve spiritual insight. Buddhist meditation is very different from all other forms preached by other religions. To understand their meditation one must first learn about the Esoteric Buddhist beliefs and teachings. Esoteric Buddhism is a large sect that is also known as Shingon, which translates to true word, and Mikkyo Buddism. Esoteric Buddhism rose to popularity during the Tang dynasty. This rise was due to the rich liturgy that an esoteric buddhist had to study. It b ecame popular amongst the intellectual who wanted to learn more about the teachings. Esoteric Buddhist also are required to meditate in order to advance in their spiritual progress. Esoteric Buddhism is based primarily on theShow MoreRelatedBuddhist Ethnography Essay1276 Words   |  6 PagesThe Buddhist Experience Buddhism is a religion that focuses more on the individual and the actions of that individual, which was prevalent to me when I made my way into Portland and set foot in a Buddhist temple. The man I met within the walls of this temple was far from my stereotypical thoughts of Buddhist monks. The man I met looked like your plain old, average Joe, American man. 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