The word religion comes from the Latin term 'religio' meaning a type of bond. It suggests a precious connection with the divine Lord. One must reflect on the true aim, goal, and purpose of religion to gain a better understanding of it. 'Religion is not just some dry intellectual idea but rather y...

Herman Hesse's "Siddhartha" is a classic story about a young man in search of enlightenment. Siddhartha, in his home village, has everything he needs and does not struggle. However, he longs for something more in life which he is not receiving. After not feeling satisfied with the tra...

"Not to commit any sin, to do good, to purify one's mind, that is the teaching of the Buddha" Yoga and Buddhism evolved in the same spiritual culture of ancient India. They use many of the same terms and follow many of the same principles and practices. Millions of peop...

Wat Chaiwattanaram is the first stop to Ayutthaya. We had breakfast before we walk around and took pictures. The wat was nearly totally ruined. It left only the uncompleted Buddhas and bricks. Wat Chaiwattanaram is a very real symbol of the artistic attainment of the Ayutthaya period. It was built...

LAW AND KARMA Indian society operates under two very different systems of law, one ancient, cyclical and metaphysical in nature, and the other modern, statutory, and civil, being grounded in the tradition of English common law as established during the imperial period of the Raj. The one system has...

Protestant vs. Socially Engaged Buddhism Somewhere in the sixth century BCE Buddhism was born, born from a single man Siddhartha Guatama, the Buddha. After gaining his enlightenment under the Bodhi tree, the Buddha didn't think that the rest of the world could handle all that he had learne...

The belief in some higher presence, other than our own, has existed since man can recollect. Religion was established from this belief, and it can survive and flourish because of this belief. In Chinese history, Taoism and Buddhism are two great phiosophical and religious traditions along with C...

Buddhism I have considered myself to be a fairly religious person. I went to a Presbyterian elementary and middle school, a Christian School. At C.S. we had a religion class everyday. The difference from then and now is then we learned strictly about Christianity. I had never h...

Brandon Carson History and Philosophy of Religion Final Exam May 3, 1999 Over the past several thousand years, many faiths have arisen and developed all over the globe. All of these faiths are unique and seem to be quite different from each ...

"I am not a man. Those evil influences, those lusts, whose non-destruction would have individualised me as... a man, I have completely annihilated. Know, therefore... that I am a Buddha." - Gautama Buddha, from the Pali scriptures (Goddard, page 5) Throughout history there have been hundr...