Religions of the World - Questions, Challenges, and New Directions - Leslie Dorrough Smith

Religions of the World - Questions, Challenges, and New Directions - Leslie Dorrough Smith

Buddhism

Religions of the World - Questions, Challenges, and New Directions - Leslie Dorrough Smith

Leslie Dorrough Smith [+-]
Avila University
Leslie Dorrough Smith is Professor of Religious Studies at Avila University and a member of the Women’s and Gender Studies faculty.
Steven W Ramey [+-]
University of Alabama
Steven W. Ramey is a Professor in Religious Studies at the University of Alabama, where he also directs the Asian Studies Program.

Description

This chapter explores and then interrogates four popular perspectives on Buddhism. The first emphasizes the teachings of the historical Buddha, Siddharta Gautama, and the ways he is described in traditional narratives of Theravada Buddhism. The second representation focuses on the importance of compassion, including the concept of the bodhisattva in Mahayana Buddhism and those who identify with Engaged Buddhism. The third representation identifies the practice of meditation (in a variety of forms) as central to the practice of Buddhism, describing elements associated with Zen and Tibetan practices, among others. Finally, the fourth representation describes Buddhism in relation to political influence, illustrating the diverse ways that leaders identified with Buddhist movements have engaged the world in ways that have been both violent and non-violent.

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Citation

Dorrough Smith, Leslie; Ramey, Steven. Buddhism. Religions of the World - Questions, Challenges, and New Directions. Equinox eBooks Publishing, United Kingdom. p. 67-102 Feb 2024. ISBN 9781800503762. https://www.equinoxpub.com/home/view-chapter/?id=44595. Date accessed: 07 Nov 2024 doi: 10.1558/equinox.44595. Feb 2024

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