HIST 4618 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Theravada, Mahayana, Gautama Buddha
20 Mar 2019
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Document Summary
Both buddhism and confucianism underwent major changes at this time. Zen buddhism emerged in the tang and song periods. Buddhism is the practice of unity and compassion that follows the text of the dharma. The goal of buddhism is to achieve the transcendence of the self. Buddhism originated in india but was always a big part of the chinese tradition ever since the 6th century. Shakyamuni (confucius disciple) was the one who spread buddhism throughout china. Buddhists believe life is an endless series of birth and rebirth. This endless cycle is what causes all of the pain and sorrow in the world. You can be reincarnated into anything but you can end the cycle by achieving nirvana. Nirvana ends reincarnation and ends your pain by essentially ending your existence. Buddha and others have achieved nirvana but very few people have achieved it as it is nearly impossible. Karma is what happens when you commit a good or a bad deed.
