Mahayana Buddhism

Vajrayana Buddhism

Zen Buddhism--as a special school of Mahayana Buddhism

1. List the country/countries in which this school of Buddhism originated and is now practiced.

1. Name any ancient or modern individuals associated with this school of Buddhism.

1. Explain the central beliefs of this school of Buddhism.

1. Describe any major events or festivals associated with this school of Buddhism.

Answers:

1.

The countries in which school of Buddhism originated in the continent of North Asia are Mongolia, Tibet, Korea, and Japan. Mahayana Buddhism primarily initiated in India and then moved to China with different characteristics than it was in India or that is Japan.

2.

The first cousin of Gautama Buddha was Ananda who was a part of the ten principal disciple of Buddhism. He was the person who led Buddhism beyond India. Ananda took birth in Nepal. The post of Ananda was one of the major posts as he was the personal attendant of Gautama Buddha.

The name, Ananda, means ‘Bliss” in Pali, and in other Indian languages as well. He not only gained his fame in India but his fame extended in South-East Asia, especially Indonesia.

Ananda, being the first cousin of Gautama Buddha, was totally devoted on him and served him as his personal attendant and accompanied him on all his wanderings and taking part in the initiatives in the interlocutor.

He was the part of the special subject of Panegeric before it is delivered by Buddha, in his parinibbana. Ananda was kind, unselfish, thoughtful and popular among the others.

3.

Mahayana Buddhism is known as the old and the primary form of Buddhism.It initiated in North Asia and the Far East that includes Japan, Korea, China, Tibet and Mongolia. Their sacred scripted language is Pali and Sutra, it was written latter in Sanskrit.

The main perspective of Mahayana Buddhism, was not to be arhats but they are supposed to be the Bodhisattavas (Lama & Chodron, 2014). 

The Mahayana Buddhism is more religious than any other form of Budhhism. It also includes the verenation of beings that is celestial in nature, rituals related to religious, magical rites and the utilization of images, icons, and other sacred objects (Lama & Chodron, 2014).

4.

One of the major festivals associated with the school of Buddhism is Vesak. It is considered as one of the major festival that was held around the year. This day is celebrated as the birthday of Gautam Buddha. It is the day of the first full moon in the month of May or the forth on lunar month that occurs generally in May or during the lunar leap year (Rao, 2015).

In many countries Vesak is celebrated not only for the birth ceremony of Lord Buddha but also for the enlightenment and parinirvana of Lord Buddha.

Reference list:

Lama, D., & Chodron, T. (2014). Buddhism: One Teacher, Many Traditions. Simon and Schuster.

Rao, J. R. V. (2013). BUDDHISM AND WORLD PEACE. Editorial Board, 125.