NOTE: Free essay sample provided on this page should be used for references or sample purposes only. The sample essay is available to anyone, so any direct quoting without mentioning the source will be considered plagiarism by schools, colleges and universities that use plagiarism detection software. To get a completely brand-new, plagiarism-free essay, please use our essay writing service.
One click instant price quote
... ne of the major religions in the world today. Even during Gautama's life conversions to Buddhism were common in the small community where it was practiced. Perhaps many poor people, who knew what it was like to suffer, were able to identify with Buddha's philosophies on pain and sorrow. Since the Buddha never asked to be worshiped as a god, common people may have found the religion less demanding and easier to believe in. Buddha was also an unbiased person who did not believe in the caste system and did not think that people of low social status should be shunned and cast from society.
By accepting the Buddha's faith, the caste system became less popular and people began to question it. Without the influences of Buddha as a teacher, many would have continued to suffer, for Buddhism offered a path to follow that people believed could lead to the escape from suffering, and a way to reach the blissful haven of Nirvana. If Gautama had never gone on to become what he was, other Eastern religions such as Hinduism, Taoism, and Jainism would have been different, for all religions are influenced by others. Prior to Gautama's birth, there were said to be other practicing Buddhas. The most important early text that states this refers to six Buddhas that appeared prior to Gautama. Another text found in the Pali scriptures narrates the lives of twenty-four Buddhas, all existing before Gautama.
Another question to ask oneself is why the Gautama Buddha was the most influential and well-known. According to the texts these other Buddhas were worshiped in India off and on for an extensive period of time. Was there some sort of connection between these other Buddhas and Gautama? Many say that every Buddha is a different incarnation of the same soul. Even if this is so, why was Gautama the one who made a difference in the course of history? The answer perhaps lies in the fabled personality and charisma of Gautama; that by chance the fact that he was a "people-person" helped him to get through to common people in a way that previous incarnations could not.
It could also have been due to the time period in which Gautama was born. "The appearance of a Buddha in this world is determined not only by his own spiritual efforts but also by other circumstances. There can only be one Buddha in a particular world at a given time, and no Buddha can arise until the teachings of the previous Buddha have completely disappeared... A Buddha is not born... when human beings are so well off... that they do not fear sickness, aging, and death; such people... would be incapable of insight into the pervasiveness of suffering and impermanence of all things and therefore would not be prepared to receive a Buddha's message. " (source unknown, page 327) As this quote shows, a reason for Gautama's influence could very well have been that he was fortunate enough to be born into the right time and place, and his ideas happened to fit the mind set of the people at the time.
Another way in which Buddhism, the teachings of Gautama, influenced the world, was through many different types of art and literature. A very early artistic representation of the Buddha was the stupa, or burial mound. The stupa is made to symbolize the transcendent body, or enlightened state of the Buddha. The traditional stupa was a golden urn in which the Buddha's ashes lay, placed in a mound built at the crossing of four main roads and covered with flowers. It served as a place of worship, a sort of shrine.
Later, anthropomorphous depictions show the Buddha as calm and loving, with a soft smile and radiant energy, usually sitting in the lotus position used for meditation. Scenes painted in temples show the Buddha at key moments of his life, such as sitting under the Bo tree. Buddhist imagery has played an important part in the development of temple architecture throughout Asia. It is through the temple remains that scholars are able to track the growth and spread of Buddhism. Sacred Buddhist writings influenced the literature of the countries that accepted Buddhism as a religion, including the United States. Author Jack Kerouac claimed to be greatly influenced by Buddhist writings, which had a direct influence upon the American Beat movement in the 1950 's.
Ancient Buddhist scriptures also had an effect upon the New Age movement that followed- with many philosophies of hippies a reflection of what had been stated by Gautama 2, 500 years before. Without the ideas of Gautama, there may never have been such a widespread hippie movement. There are multitudes of Buddhist verses, epithets and biographies of Gautama, few of which are granted very much credibility only because nothing was written of Gautama during his life. Modern-day Buddhism is still very much alive and growing. In the East Buddhists have had to battle with communism and imperialism, but in the long run has overcome these threats. The most damage to Buddhism was done in Tibet, where the Chinese Communist occupation almost wiped out the spiritual and cultural basis of Tibetan culture.
In Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Nepal and Mongolia Buddhism is still a strong force. In the West Buddhism is kept alive by the descendants of 19 th- century immigrants, and anyone else who may have found truth in the teachings of Gautama. There are currently Buddhist communities all over the United States, with all sects of Buddhism being represented. The fastest growing schools in the U. S. are Zen and Tibetan Buddhism, both a variation of the Mahayana school.
Many Westerners are so interested in Buddhism that they are becoming Buddhist teachers themselves. In the U. S. Buddhism is being modified to fit 20 th- century American ideas and culture. As one can see, the teachings of the Gautama Buddha greatly affected many different cultures throughout many time periods all over the world. Whether it be art, literature, religion, philosophy, or social reforms, Buddhism has influenced a multitude of different things.
Had it not been for Gautama there would be no Buddhist influence on the many styles of artwork, literature, architecture, philosophy and ways of life as there is today. Buddhism has survived the threat of cultural reform and has flourished in most continents across the globe. The Buddha himself may have foreseen the spread of Buddhism, and how his local following would never die if it maintained a pattern of new growth. When asked how a drop of water could be prevented from drying up, he answered, "by throwing it into the sea. " Bibliography:
Free research essays on topics related to: buddha, buddhism, common people, gautama, caste system
Research essay sample on Caste System Common People
