“Growing a Movement: Buddhism’s Journey from India to the World” is a title that suggests the story of Buddhism’s expansion and growth from its origins in India to its spread throughout the world. It implies that Buddhism started as a small sect in India, but through various means and efforts, it has grown and spread to become a major global religion with followers all around the world.

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Growing a Movement: Buddhism’s Journey from India to the World

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The growth and spread of Buddhism can be attributed to a number of factors, including the teachings of the Buddha, which provided an alternative to the traditional religious beliefs of Hinduism and the caste system. The simplicity and accessibility of the Buddha’s teachings also helped to attract a wide range of followers, including members of all social classes. The support of powerful rulers, such as Emperor Ashoka of the Mauryan Empire, also played a significant role in the spread of Buddhism.

Buddhism also spread through the efforts of missionary monks and traders, who helped to establish Buddhist communities and spread the religion to new areas. Eventually, Buddhism spread to Central, East, and Southeast Asia, and eventually to other parts of the world. Today, Buddhism is a major religion with followers in many countries including China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, and many others.

Buddhism’s journey is the story of its development and spread from its origins in ancient India to its current status as a major global religion with followers all around the world.

Chapter – 1 The origins of Buddhism

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The origins of Buddhism can be traced back to the 5th century BCE in India, where it was founded by Siddhartha Gautama, also known as the Buddha. During the Buddha’s lifetime, Buddhism spread gradually, primarily through the efforts of his followers who traveled throughout India and taught the Buddha’s teachings.

In the centuries following the Buddha’s death, Buddhism continued to spread and evolve. Emperor Ashoka of the Mauryan Empire became a major patron of Buddhism and helped to establish it as a major religion in India. From India, Buddhism spread to Central, East, and Southeast Asia through the efforts of missionary monks and traders.

As Buddhism spread, it absorbed local religious and cultural practices, leading to the emergence of different forms of Buddhism, such as Theravada and Mahayana. Buddhism also spread to other parts of Asia, including China, Korea, and Japan, and eventually to other parts of the world, including the Himalayan regions, Tibet, and Mongolia.

Today, Buddhism is a major religion with followers in many countries, including China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, and many others. The journey of Buddhism has been marked by a history of cultural exchange, adaptation, and evolution, making it a diverse and dynamic religion.

The Buddha’s teachings were later written down in the form of texts known as the Pali Canon, which became the foundation of Theravada Buddhism, one of the two main branches of Buddhism.

In summary, Buddhism began as a small sect in ancient India, founded by Siddhartha Gautama, also known as the Buddha, who left his palace to seek the truth about human suffering and attained enlightenment. He began teaching his insights and the path to enlightenment, which became the foundation of Buddhism.

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Chapter – 2 From Sidharth to Guatam Buddha

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Siddhartha Gautama, also known as the Buddha, was born in present-day Nepal in a royal family. He was raised in a life of luxury and protected from the outside world and the suffering of humanity. As he grew older, he became increasingly curious about the world beyond the palace walls, and eventually, he left his palace and luxurious life to seek the truth about human suffering.

One of the most beautiful literary renderings of the story is told by Ashvaghosha in the 1st century CE. Prince Siddhartha Gautama is said to have been born in the royal Shakya family in a place called Lumbini, which is located in present-day Nepal, at the foothills of the Himalayas. There is some debate over the date of his birth, with some citing it at taking place in 563 BCE and others citing 480 BCE. At the time of his birth, seers foretold that he would either become a great king or an enlightened teacher. If the prince were to see the “four passing sights”—old age, sickness, death, and a wandering ascetic—he would renounce his royal life and seek enlightenment.

His father, the king, was determined that his son become a great ruler and tried to shield Prince Siddhartha from these four realities of life. However, at age 29, Siddhartha, with his charioteer, went out of the protected palace grounds and, for the first time, encountered suffering, which he understood to be an inevitable part of life. He saw four sights: a man bent with old age, a person afflicted with sickness, a corpse, and a wandering ascetic. It was the fourth sight, that of a wandering ascetic, that filled Siddhartha with a sense of urgency to find out what lay at the root of human suffering.

Siddhartha left the luxury of the palace. He studied and lived an austere life in the forest with the foremost teachers and ascetics of his time. Yet, he found that their teachings and severe bodily austerities did not enable him to answer the question of suffering or provide insight into how to be released from it. Having experienced the life of self-indulgence in the palace and then the life of self-denial in the forest, he finally settled on a “middle way,” a balance between these two extremes. Accepting food from a village girl, he recovered his bodily strength and began a journey inward through the practice of meditation.

Siddhartha spent six years practicing asceticism and meditation, seeking an understanding of the nature of suffering and the path to enlightenment. After six years of rigorous asceticism and meditation, he attained enlightenment and became the Buddha, the “Awakened One.”

In becoming the Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama discovered the Four Noble Truths which is that suffering exists, suffering arises from craving and attachment, it is possible to end suffering, and the path to the cessation of suffering is the Eightfold Path.

After attaining enlightenment, the Buddha began teaching his insights and the path to enlightenment, which became the foundation of Buddhism. He taught that the root of human suffering is desire and ignorance, and that the path to ending suffering is the Eightfold Path, which includes right understanding, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration.

In Buddhism, the term “Buddha” is often used to refer to anyone who has achieved enlightenment, but it is also used as a title for Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism.

Chapter – 3 Truth – Buddha Got Answer

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A/c to Buddhist tradition, the Buddha attained enlightenment, also known as Nirvana, through the practice of meditation. After leaving his palace and beginning his spiritual quest, the Buddha practiced various forms of asceticism and meditation, seeking an understanding of the nature of suffering and the path to enlightenment. He practiced under various teachers, but was not satisfied with the answers he received. He then decided to rely on himself and his own efforts to reach the truth. He practiced under a bodhi tree, until he attained enlightenment.

The Buddha’s enlightenment is described as the realization of the Four Noble Truths and the understanding of the nature of suffering, its cause, and the possibility of ending it. Through meditation, the Buddha was able to understand the workings of his own mind, as well as the nature of reality. He discovered that the mind is not a fixed entity, but rather a constantly changing process. He also realized that the cause of suffering is the attachment to things that are impermanent and that suffering can be overcome by understanding and letting go of these attachments.

The Buddha’s enlightenment also gave him supernatural powers called the six supernatural powers (abhijñā): the ability to read the minds of others, the ability to remember his previous lives, the ability to know the death and rebirth of beings, the ability to see the heavenly and lower realms, the ability to know the suffering and the causes of suffering, and the ability to extinguish the defilements.

It is important to note that while the attainment of supernatural powers is an important aspect of the Buddha’s enlightenment in traditional Buddhism, the emphasis in the teachings is on the attainment of the cessation of suffering and not on gaining powers.

Meditation is one of the key practices in Buddhism, and it is believed to be a powerful tool for understanding the truth of life and attaining enlightenment. According to Buddhist teachings, meditation can help to quiet the mind, increase awareness and understanding, and ultimately lead to the realization of the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path.

Here are a few ways in which meditation can help one to know the truth of life:

1. Mindfulness: One of the key elements of meditation is mindfulness, which is the practice of paying attention to the present moment without judgment. Mindfulness can help to increase awareness and understanding of one’s thoughts, emotions, and actions, which can lead to a deeper understanding of the nature of reality and the self.
2. Insight: Meditation can also help to develop insight, which is the ability to see the true nature of things. Through meditation, one can gain a deeper understanding of the nature of suffering, its causes, and the possibility of ending it.

3. Self-discovery: Meditation can also help to reveal the true nature of the self. According to Buddhist teachings, the self is not a fixed entity but rather a constantly changing process. Through meditation, one can gain a deeper understanding of the workings of the mind and the nature of the self.

According to Buddhist tradition, the Buddha practiced a variety of forms of meditation during his spiritual journey before attaining enlightenment. These practices included asceticism, deep concentration and mindfulness meditation.

One of the main practices that the Buddha is said to have used is called Vipassana meditation, which is also known as “insight meditation.” Vipassana is a form of meditation that focuses on developing insight into the nature of reality and the self. It involves paying close attention to one’s thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations in order to gain a deeper understanding of the nature of suffering, its causes, and the possibility of ending it.

Another practice that the Buddha is said to have used is called Samadhi meditation, which is a form of deep concentration meditation. Samadhi meditation involves focusing the mind on a single object, such as the breath, in order to achieve a state of deep concentration and mental stillness.

The Buddha also taught and practiced Anapanasati which is the mindfulness of breathing, it is considered as a tool to cultivate concentration and insight.

It’s important to note that the Buddha’s teachings were passed down orally for several centuries before they were written down, and different texts may present different versions of his meditation practices.

Chapter – 4 Buddha’s Teachings

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The Buddha’s teachings, also known as the Dharma, are the foundation of Buddhism and are centered around the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path.

The Four Noble Truths are:

1. The truth of suffering (dukkha) – that suffering exists in the world and is an inherent part of the human experience
2. The truth of the cause of suffering (samudaya) – that suffering arises from craving and attachment
3. The truth of the cessation of suffering (nirodha) – that it is possible to end suffering
4. The truth of the path to the cessation of suffering (magga) – the Eightfold Path

The Eightfold Path is a framework for understanding the way to end suffering and attain enlightenment. It includes:

1. Right understanding – understanding the Four Noble Truths
2. Right intention – having a clear and wholesome motivation for one’s actions
3. Right speech – speaking truthfully, kindly, and constructively
4. Right action – behaving ethically and non-harmfully
5. Right livelihood – earning a living in an ethical and non-harmful way
6. Right effort – making a sustained effort to improve oneself
7. Right mindfulness – being aware of one’s thoughts, emotions and actions in the present moment
8. Right concentration – developing the ability to focus the mind and achieve a meditative state.

The Buddha’s teachings also include the Five Precepts, which are ethical guidelines for living a good life, and the Noble Eightfold Path which is a path to the cessation of suffering and the attainment of enlightenment. The Buddha’s teachings also emphasize the importance of compassion, wisdom and the cultivation of mindfulness.

The Buddha’s teachings, also known as the Dharma, provide guidance for living a meaningful and fulfilling life, and offer a path to the cessation of suffering and the attainment of enlightenment. Here are a few ways in which the Buddha’s teachings can help humans:

1. Understanding suffering: The Four Noble Truths, which are at the heart of the Buddha’s teachings, provide a framework for understanding the nature of suffering and its causes. This understanding can help individuals to identify the sources of their suffering and take steps to alleviate it.
2. Developing compassion: The Buddha’s teachings emphasize the importance of compassion and altruism. Through practicing compassion and empathy, individuals can develop a sense of connection and understanding with others, which can lead to a more fulfilling life.
3. Improving ethics: The Five Precepts, which are ethical guidelines for living a good life, provide a framework for making ethical choices and behaving in a non-harmful way. Adhering to these precepts can help individuals to live with integrity and avoid actions that cause harm to themselves and others.
4. Cultivating mindfulness: The Buddha’s teachings also emphasize the importance of mindfulness, which is the practice of being present in the moment. Mindfulness can help to reduce stress, improve mental and physical health, and increase overall well-being.
5. Achieving inner peace: The Buddha’s teachings offer a path to the cessation of suffering, which is the ultimate goal of Buddhism. By understanding and following the Eightfold Path, individuals can work towards attaining inner peace and freedom from suffering. This can lead to a sense of contentment, joy, and a meaningful life.
6. Achieving wisdom: The Buddha’s teachings also offer guidance on developing wisdom and understanding the nature of reality. Through gaining insight and understanding of the Four Noble Truths, individuals can gain a deeper understanding of themselves and the world around them, which can lead to a greater sense of fulfillment and a more enlightened perspective on life.
7. Promoting mental and emotional well-being: The Buddha’s teachings also encourage individuals to let go of negative emotions such as anger, hatred, and greed. By releasing these negative emotions, individuals can improve their mental and emotional well-being and cultivate a more peaceful and contented mindset.

In summary, Buddhism offers a path to a more meaningful

Buddha Story Daku Angulimala

The Daku Angulimala Story is a riveting tale from the Buddhist scriptures of a blood-thirsty murderer who lived during the time that the Buddha walked the earth. Terrorizing the realm of King Pasenadi, Angulimala was known for the garland of fingers that he severed from his victims and wore around his neck.

“Brutal, bloody-handed, devoted to killing & slaying, showing no mercy to living beings, He turned villages into non-villages, towns into non-towns, settled countryside into unsettled countryside.”

As the story goes, the Buddha was staying in the region where Angulimala was on the loose. The Buddha went into town for alms, and when he had finished his meal, he took his bowl and walked along the road to where Angulimala was staying.

Local farmers, shepherds, and cowherds warned the Buddha that groups of even ten, twenty, thirty, and forty men had been ambushed and killed by Angulimala. They urged the Buddha to turn back, but he did not. Resolutely, calmly, the Buddha walked in the direction of the killer’s lair.

Angulimala saw the lone monk pass by and gleefully determined to kill him. Yet as he ran toward the Buddha, the Buddha “willed a feat of psychic power such that Angulimala, though running with all his might, could not catch up with the Blessed One walking at normal pace.” Amazed by this display of power, Angulimala called out, “Stop, contemplative! Stop!”

The Buddha replied, “I have stopped, Angulimala. You stop.”

Angulimala asked, puzzled,

“While walking, contemplative,
you say, ‘I have stopped.’
But when I have stopped
you say I haven’t.
I ask you the meaning of this:
How have you stopped?
How haven’t I?”

The Buddha replied,

“I have stopped, Angulimala,
once & for all,
having cast off violence
toward all living beings.
You, though,
are unrestrained toward beings.
That’s how I’ve stopped
and you haven’t.”

Moved by the Buddha’s words, Angulimala determined to abandon violence. He hurled his weapons off a cliff and requested ordination from the Buddha on the spot. The Buddha granted it, and Angulimala joined the community of those who have gone forth with saffron robes and shaven heads.

It’s too easy to kill , Very difficult to connect

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Chapter – 5 Power of Meditation & Silence

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दुसरो से मिलना तो बहुत आसान है

मुश्किल है खुद से खुदकी मुलाकात

तेरी ताकत तुझमे है

तेरी तक़दीर तू है

तेरा खुदा जब तुझमे है

तो चिंता क्यों करते हो

सबकुछ तेरा है

और कुछ भी नहीं

Meditation is a powerful tool for achieving mental and physical well-being and spiritual growth. Here are a few ways in which meditation can benefit individuals:

1. Stress reduction: Meditation can help to reduce stress by promoting relaxation and calming the mind. This can lead to a decrease in stress-related symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and high blood pressure.
2. Improved focus and concentration: Meditation can help to improve focus and concentration by training the mind to be more present and aware. This can lead to better performance in work and school, as well as in daily life.
3. Increased self-awareness: Meditation can help to increase self-awareness by promoting mindfulness, which is the practice of being present in the moment. This can lead to a deeper understanding of one’s thoughts, emotions, and actions, and can help to improve decision-making.
4. Improved physical health: Meditation can also have positive effects on physical health. It can lower blood pressure, improve immune function, and reduce chronic pain.
5. Emotional regulation: Meditation can help individuals to regulate their emotions better, by helping to reduce negative emotions such as anger, anxiety and depression.
6. Increased empathy and compassion: Meditation can also help to increase empathy and compassion by promoting feelings of connection and understanding with others.
7. Spiritual growth: Meditation can be a powerful tool for spiritual growth and self-discovery. It can help individuals to gain a deeper understanding of themselves and the nature of reality, and to move closer to the goal of spiritual enlightenment.

It’s important to note that the benefits of meditation can vary depending on the individual, the type of meditation practiced, and the frequency and duration of practice

The power of silence refers to the idea that remaining silent or not speaking can be a powerful tool in various situations. It can be used to signal agreement, create tension, or to give oneself time to think. In communication, it can also be used as a way to listen actively and understand the other person better. In addition, silence can also be used as a form of self-reflection and introspection, allowing individuals to gain clarity and insight into their thoughts and feelings. In general, the power of silence can be a powerful tool for communication and personal growth.

How to Start Meditation

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Meditation is a practice that involves focusing the mind on a particular object, thought, or activity to achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm state.

To start meditating, you can follow these steps:

1. Find a quiet and comfortable place where you can sit or lie down without being disturbed.
2. Set a timer for the length of time you want to meditate. Starting with shorter periods, such as 5-10 minutes, can help you gradually build up to longer sessions.
3. Sit or lie down in a comfortable position. If you’re sitting, make sure your back is straight and your feet are firmly on the ground.
4. Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths. As you inhale, count to four in your head, and as you exhale, count to four again.
5. Focus your attention on your breath. If your mind starts to wander, gently bring it back to your breath.
6. Continue to breathe deeply and focus on your breath for the entire duration of your meditation.
7. When the timer goes off, take a few deep breaths and slowly open your eyes.

It is important to remember that meditation is not about clearing your mind, but acknowledging and letting go of thoughts that come and go. With regular practice, you’ll find it easier to focus and achieve a more peaceful state of mind.

Furthermore, because it is the mind’s natural tendency to spontaneously move on to a field of stable peace and contentment, the individual’s effort to control the mind to remain only on one limited object of attention, as is done with Samatha meditation today, actually prevents the mind from rushing on to the ever-constant infinity and happiness it so desperately needs and desires.

However, it is not Samatha meditation that is the most popular type of Buddhist meditation; the most widely used form today is Vipassana or Mindfulness meditation. Vipassana is also referred to as Insight meditation, because through its practice one is supposed to develop penetrating insight into the true nature of reality. Buddha explained that through Vipassana, which literally means through insight, one should gain the wisdom that brings you freedom from the blindness of ignorance.

Nowadays, Vipassana/Mindfulness meditation is practised with the intention of being an objective observer of some natural process occurring within one’s own body, mind, or emotions. For example, one is asked to simply observe or be mindful of the rising and falling of the abdomen during the breathing process, or to simply observe the incoming and outgoing of the breath itself.

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Chapter – 6 Buddha to Buddhism

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The Buddha died at the age of 80, after 45 years of teaching, surrounded by a large group of his disciples. This is known as the parinirvana—the death of someone who has attained nirvana, or enlightenment, during their lifetime and will not be reborn. They are liberated from the cycle of birth and death, as well as the associated suffering.

Following the Buddha’s death, his celibate wandering disciples gradually settled into monasteries supported by the married laityas’ merit-producing gifts. The monks then taught the laity some of the Buddha’s teachings. They also visited the Buddha’s birthplace and worshipped the tree under which he attained enlightenment (bodhi tree), Buddha images in temples, and relics of his body housed in various stupas or funeral mounds. Ashoka, a famous king, and his son helped spread Buddhism throughout South India and into Sri Lanka (Ceylon) (3rd century B.C.E.).

According to the Pali Canon, which contains some of the earliest written records of the Buddha’s life and teachings, 500 of the Buddha’s senior monks met about three months after his parinirvana, around 400 BCE, to discuss how their teacher’s wisdom and the rules he developed to guide the monastic community (the Vinaya) would be preserved. This was dubbed the first Buddhist council.

Many monastic schools developed among the Buddha’s followers. This is partly because his practical teachings were enigmatic on several points; for instance, he refused to give an unequivocal answer about whether humans have a soul (atta/atman) or not. Another reason for the development of different schools was that he refused to appoint asuccessor to follow him as leader of the Sangha (monastic order). He told the monks to be lamps unto themselves and make the Dhamma their guide.

About the first century C.E. a major split occurred within the Buddhist fold-that between the Mahayana and Hinayana branches. Of the Hinayana (“the Lesser Vehicle”) branch of schools, only the The ravada school (founded 4th century B.C.E.) remains; it is currently found in Sri Lanka and all Southeast Asian countries. This school stresses the historical figure of Gautama Buddha, and the centrality of the monk’s life-style and practice (meditation). The ravada monks hold that the Buddha taught a doctrine of anatta (no-soul) when he spoke of the impermanence of the human body/form, perception, sensations/feelings, consciousness, and volition. They believe, however, that human beings continue to be “reformed” and reborn, and to collect karma until they reach Nirvana. The The ravada school has compiled a sacred canon of early Buddhist teachings and regulations that is called the Tripitaka.

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Chapter – 7 Buddhism – A Religion

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Buddhism is a major religion in the world. It began in South Asia around the 5th century B.C.E. with Siddhartha Gautama, and spread across Asia and the rest of the world over the next millennia. Buddhists believe that human life is a cycle of suffering and rebirth, but that enlightenment (nirvana) allows one to escape this cycle forever.

The Buddha taught about Four Noble Truths. The first truth is called “Suffering (dukkha),” which teaches that everyone in life is suffering in some way. The second truth is “Origin of suffering (samudāya).” This states that all suffering comes from desire (tanhā). The third truth is “Cessation of suffering (nirodha),” and it says that it is possible to stop suffering and achieve enlightenment. The fourth truth, “Path to the cessation of suffering (magga)” is about the Middle Way, which are the steps to achieve enlightenment.

There are three main schools of Buddhism: Mahayana, Theravada, and Vajrayana. Mahayana Buddhism is common in China, Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea. It emphasizes the role models of bodhisattvas (beings that have achieved enlightenment but return to teach humans). Theravada Buddhism is common in Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, and Burma (Myanmar). It emphasizes a monastic lifestyle and meditation as the way to enlightenment. Vajrayana is the major school of Buddhism in the region of Tibet and in Nepal, Bhutan, and Mongolia. It offers followers a faster path to enlightenment than Mahayana or Theravada.

Buddhism has been a controversial religion. The head of the Tibetan school of Buddhism and traditional leader of Tibet, the Dalai Lama, fled from China-controlled Tibet in 1959 to India in fear of his life. Many Tibetan Buddhists actively resist Chinese control of the region. Recently, the current Dalai Lama, who is understood to be the fourteenth reincarnation of the first Dalai Lama, has raised questions over whether and where he will choose to reincarnate.

So as we see in every religion there certain followers as the name of Maulvi Saheb , Pandit Ji similar in Buddhism we see Buddhist Monks, who follows the tradition strictly 

Buddhist monks are men or women who have chosen to dedicate their lives to the pursuit of spiritual enlightenment in the Buddhist tradition. They take vows to live a monastic lifestyle, which typically includes living in a community of other monks, following a strict code of ethical conduct, and devoting themselves to the study and practice of Buddhism.

The role of a Buddhist monk is to study and practice the teachings of the Buddha in order to attain enlightenment, and to help others do the same. They spend much of their time meditating, studying scripture, and participating in rituals and ceremonies. Monks also often serve as spiritual teachers and leaders in their communities, providing guidance and support to laypeople who seek to deepen their understanding of Buddhism.

Monks typically wear traditional robes, shave their heads, and live in monasteries or temples. Depending on the tradition, the rituals and practices may vary, but most traditions have a strong emphasis on meditation, mindfulness, and ethical conduct.

In some Buddhist traditions, monks are expected to observe strict celibacy and to refrain from any form of personal possession. In other traditions, this is not the case. Monks in these traditions often live in households and may have families.

In any case, being a Buddhist monk is a serious commitment, one that requires discipline, devotion, and a deep understanding of the Buddhist teachings. It is not a decision to be taken lightly and requires a lot of practice, study and spiritual guidance.

The bhikku keeps his head and face shaved. He wears three garments—an upper and lower robe, as well as a stole—that were originally made of saffron-dyed rags and are now more likely the gift of a layperson. He is only permitted to keep a few possessions: his robes and stole, a girdle, an alms bowl, a razor, a needle and thread for mending, and a strainer to keep small insects from entering his drinking water.

In the Theravāda countries of Southeast Asia, the monk commonly is prohibited from handling money and from doing physical labour. This is not the case in China and Japan, where Ch’an (Zen) Buddhism early established the rule, “A day without work, a day without food.”

Theravada
Theravada monasticism is organized around the guidelines found within a division of the Pāli Canon called the Vinaya Pitaka. Laypeople undergo ordination as a novitiate (śrāmaṇera or sāmanera) in a rite known as the “going forth” (Pali: pabbajja). Sāmaneras are subject to the Ten Precepts. From there full ordination (Pali: upasampada) may take place. Bhikkhus are subject to a much longer set of rules known as the Pātimokkha (Theravada) or Prātimokṣa (Mahayana and Vajrayana).

Mahayana
In the Mahayana monasticism is part of the system of “vows of individual liberation”. These vows are taken by monks and nuns from the ordinary sangha, in order to develop personal ethical discipline. In Mahayana and Vajrayana, the term “sangha” is, in principle, often understood to refer particularly to the aryasangha (Wylie: mchog kyi tshogs), the “community of the noble ones who have reached the first bhūmi”. These, however, need not be monks and nuns.

The vows of individual liberation are taken in four steps. A lay person may take the five upāsaka and upāsikā vows (Wylie: dge snyan (ma), “approaching virtue”). The next step is to enter the pabbajja or monastic way of life , which includes wearing monk’s or nun’s robes. After that, one can become a samanera or samaneri “novice”. The last and final step is to take all the vows of a bhikkhu or bhikkhuni “fully ordained monastic”.

Chapter – 8 Buddhism Spread India to World

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Buddhism originated in ancient India, where the Buddha, also known as Siddhartha Gautama, attained enlightenment and began teaching his spiritual insights to others. Buddhism quickly spread throughout India and beyond, becoming one of the major world religions.

Buddhism spread to other parts of Asia through the efforts of Buddhist monks and traders who traveled and spread the teachings of the Buddha. It became particularly popular in China, Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar.

As Buddhism spread, it also began to evolve and adapt to different cultures and societies, resulting in the development of different branches and traditions. In China, for example, Buddhism merged with Taoist and Confucian ideas to form Chinese Buddhism. In Japan, Buddhism was influenced by Shintoism and gave rise to a unique form of Buddhism known as Zen.

Today, Buddhism is a global religion with millions of followers around the world. It continues to evolve and adapt to different cultures and societies, while still maintaining its core teachings and practices.

In India, Buddhism faced a decline due to various reasons and the number of followers is significantly less than in other countries, though it still has a strong presence in some parts of the country, particularly in states such as Maharashtra, Bihar and in North East India.

The list of Buddhism by country shows that there are about 500 million Buddhists in this world, which is around 7-8% of the world’s population. 

Buddhism is dominant in many south-easts, east and central countries in Asia, such as Bhutan, Myanmar, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Tibet, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Korea, Vietnam, Nepal and many more. 

China has the largest population of Buddhists, which is about 50% of the total Buddhist population. Around 250 million Chinese are Buddhists. They are followers of Mahayana, the largest body of Buddhist traditions.

The second largest is Theravada, which is mostly followed in Southeast Asia and Sri Lanka. The third-largest is Vajrayana, which is followed by the people of the Himalayan region and parts of Russia. 

According to the Pew Research Centre, the countries with the largest population of Buddhists as of 2010 are China, with a population of around 250 million Buddhists followed by Thailand, with a population of 65 million followed by Japan, with a population of around 45 million, followed Myanmar, with a population of about 38 million people. These four countries contain 80% of the total Buddhist population, and the rest, 20%, are divided between Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Korea, India, Malaysia and other Eastern Asian countries.

Chapter – 10 Buddhism Challenges

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As you know, Buddhism is not a unified type of system, or even religion. One could even debate whether or not it actually is a religion. But it spread from India to many, many countries throughout Asia; and in each country, each civilization that it encountered, it was understood and adopted to that culture. And so, we find very different brands of Buddhism around Asia.

There are three general waves of Buddhism. One went to Southeast Asia, the so called Theravada Buddhism. We find that in Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia, a little bit in Vietnam (not that much). And then we find one wave went through Central Asia to China, and from China to Japan and Korea, and down to Vietnam. And then another wave that went later from India to Tibet, and from Tibet to Mongolia, and throughout Central Asia and to the various Mongol groups who came to Russia, so the Buryats, the Kalmyks and also a Turkic group – the Tuvinians. So we have a wide diversity, and that is a bit simplifying, because within that there were various waves.

Buddhism, like any other religion, has faced various challenges throughout its history. Some of the main challenges that Buddhism has faced include:

1. Competition with other religions: Buddhism has often competed with other religions for followers, particularly in regions where it was not the dominant religion. For example, in India, Buddhism faced competition from Hinduism and Jainism, while in China, it competed with Taoism and Confucianism.
2. Cultural assimilation: As Buddhism spread to different parts of Asia, it encountered different cultures and societies, which led to the development of new forms of Buddhism. This process of cultural assimilation sometimes resulted in the loss of traditional teachings and practices.
3. Political and economic instability: Buddhism has been affected by political and economic instability in the regions where it has been practiced. For example, in India, Buddhism faced decline due to invasions by foreign powers and the rise of other religions.
4. Internal conflicts and schisms: Buddhism has experienced internal conflicts and schisms, particularly in regards to the interpretation of the teachings, and the role of monastic and lay communities.
5. Modern challenges: In recent times Buddhism, like other religions, has to face modern challenges such as secularization, lack of interest in religion, and the influence of scientific and technological advancements which may question the traditional beliefs and practices.

Despite these challenges, Buddhism has been able to adapt and evolve over time and continues to be a vibrant and growing religion with millions of followers around the world.

Growing a Movement: Buddhism’s Journey from India to the World  Buddhism is a global religion with followers in many countries around the world. Some of the countries where Buddhism is most widely practiced include:

• China: Buddhism has a long history in China, where it is one of the major religions. Chinese Buddhism is a unique blend of Buddhism and traditional Chinese beliefs and practices.Chinese Buddhism is the largest institutionalized religion in Mainland China. Currently, there are an estimated 185 to 250 million Chinese Buddhists in the People’s Republic of China. It is also a major religion in Taiwan, Singapore, and Malaysia, as well as among the Chinese Diaspora. During the Qing dynasty (1644–1911), the imperial court shifted its support to the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. Chinese Buddhism suffered much during the various imperial and internal conflicts of the Qing dynasty, especially the devastating Taiping rebellion (December 1850 – August 1864), which saw many temples destroyed and scriptures burned by rebels. This era also saw the arrival of Christian missionaries to China, a right which had been granted to Western powers after the Opium Wars.Chinese Buddhist temples usually include numerous images and statues of Buddhas and bodhisattvas. They are often ritually carved and installed as part of a consecration ritual that may include chanting and scripture reading. Devotion towards these are a major part of Chinese Buddhism. As Chün-fang Yü writes “people in China worship buddhas and bodhisattvas in rituals, write poems and novels about them, praise them in songs and hymns, and tell stories and stage plays about them. And above all else, they worship the images of these holy beings.”According to Mario Poceski, Chinese Buddhist temples generally follow a traditional Chinese palace layout. They “consist of a series of halls and courtyards that are arranged symmetrically around a central axis, which usually runs from north to south. The main hall is typically a large building that is centrally located along the main axis. In larger monasteries or temples, a number of ancillary halls also house the images of lesser Buddhist divinities, giving residents and visitors alike a wide choice of objects of worship and supplication.

• Japan: Buddhism was introduced to Japan in the 6th century CE and it has been an important part of Japanese culture ever since. Zen Buddhism is particularly popular in Japan.
• Thailand: Buddhism is the dominant religion in Thailand and it has a strong influence on Thai culture. The Theravada tradition is the most widely practiced form of Buddhism in Thailand.
• Sri Lanka: Buddhism has been the dominant religion in Sri Lanka for over 2000 years. The Theravada tradition is the most widely practiced form of Buddhism in Sri Lanka.
• Myanmar: Buddhism is the dominant religion in Myanmar and it has a strong influence on Burmese culture. The Theravada tradition is the most widely practiced form of Buddhism in Myanmar.

• Vietnam: Buddhism has a long history in Vietnam and it is one of the major religions. Mahayana Buddhism is the most widely practiced form of Buddhism in Vietnam.

Chapter – 10 Modern Buddhism Practices

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