with this Philosophy question so I can learn better. What are the most significant ways in which the teachings of the Buddha deviated from those of Hinduism?The Teachings of BuddhismThe foundation of the teaching of the Buddha is his doctrine of Interdependent Origination, according to which all things are interrelated and dependent upon other things for their coming-into-existence and continued existence. No thing, in fact, has an existence or identity that distinguishes it from all other things. The Buddha also taught that all things are impermanent. Nothing remains the same, even for a moment. Instead, all things are always in a state of becoming. These teachings have two important implications. The first is that, because we human beings are part of the vast web of interrelated things, we have no independent existence as a ?self? separate from other things. The second is that suffering will arise whenever we vainly try to grasp or control anything?including the so-called ?self??in a world that, because it is constantly changing, cannot be grasped. Those who wish to put an end to suffering must learn to live without attachment to things. Letting go of desire for and attachment to things that cannot be possessed brings an end to suffering and, ultimately, the bliss of nirvana.The three great traditions within Buddhism elaborate on the Buddha?s teaching, each in its own way. The Theravada tradition emphasizes monasticism and makes a hero of the arhat, the person who has attained enlightenment. The spiritual hero in Mahayana Buddhism is the bodhisattva, or ?enlightenment being,? who vows to aid all beings in their quest for enlightenment. Mahayana understands the historical Buddha as an earthly expression of the Dharma and teaches a complex cosmology. Vajrayana Buddhism shares the bodhisattva ideal with Mahayana but is distinctive in its emphasis on tantric teachings and rituals.The History of BuddhismSoon after the death of the Buddha his monks organized the First Buddhist Council (c. 483 B.C.E.) for the purpose of preserving his teachings. It was followed by several additional councils, all of which served to establish the Buddhist tradition. For a time, Buddhism thrived in India?and especially during the third century B.C.E. with the support of King Ashoka. During his reign Buddhism became an imperial religion, receiving state support. Ashoka sponsored missionary efforts that brought Buddhism to southern India, Sri Lanka, and Southeast Asia. By 400 C.E. it had arrived in China and Korea. It continued to spread throughout Asia, though in India its influence began to wane in the eighth century with the emergence of Hindu devotional cults, which proved to be more popular. Buddhism was largely unknown in the West until the 19th century. It assumed a presence in America in 1893 at the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago, attended by religious leaders from around the world. Another factor that promoted Buddhism in America was the immigration of Asian Buddhists.Buddhism as a Way of LifeBuddhists identify themselves as such by reciting the Three Refuges: ?I take refuge in the Buddha. I take refuge in the Dharma. I take refuge in the Sangha.? In doing so, they testify to their commitment to the Buddha and his teachings and their reliance on the entire community of Buddhists. Buddhists also embrace the Five Precepts, prohibitions of killing, stealing, sexual immorality, lying, and the use of intoxicants. Another basic feature of the Buddhist way of life is the Eightfold Path, which the Buddha offered as a prescription for the elimination suffering. Taken together, these represent the foundation of the Buddhist way of life.Many Buddhists, both monastics and laypeople, practice meditation in a variety of forms. Some techniques, such as Shamatha and Vipassana, calm and stabilize the mind, allowing one to watch its movements non-judging and detached attitude. Some are more complex, involving the contemplation of mandalas, recitation of mantras, and the visualization of deities.Another Buddhist practice is pilgrimage to holy places, and especially the places the Buddha?s birth, enlightenment, first sermon, and death. In many cases, pilgrimage destination sites feature stupas containing relics of the Buddha or of Buddhist saints.Perhaps the most popular of all Buddhist practices is the observance of holidays and festivals. The most important of these are Vesak, a celebration of the birth of the Buddha, andAsala, which commemorates the anniversary of the preaching of the Buddha?s first sermon.
