Donte Wallace
4th hr
10/27/13
Buddhism originated in northern India in the 5th century B.C.E. The tradition traces its origin to Siddhartha Gautama or more commonly known as Buddha or the Enlightened One. The Buddha's teachings are often summarized in the Four Noble Truths, which form the basis of the first sermon he delivered after attaining enlightenment, and the Eightfold Path, which provides a basic way to live in the world. Over the course of its 2500-year history, Buddhism has experienced many schisms and modifications. There are currently three major branches of the tradition — the Theravada (Doctrine of the Elders), the Mahayana (Great Vehicle), and Tibetan Buddhism. Buddhism has spread from its roots in India to virtually every corner of the world, and in each place it has spread it has adopted local practices and beliefs of their own. Buddhism is one of the largest religions in the United States behind Christianity, Judaism. Buddhism has experienced large growth in the United States over recent decades, due to diversity, migration, religious freedom, international travel, and the internet. The majority of Buddhists in America are of Asian descent, but the number of non-Asian American Buddhists continues increase. There are also many Americans who identify themselves as Christian or Jewish who incorporate Buddhist practices and concepts into their religious lives. Many new departments of Buddhist studies were established in the American universities. The first of the Four Noble Truths is life means suffering. The basis of this is that to live is to suffer, because the human race is not perfect and neither is the world. On this earth, everyone inevitably suffers pain, sickness, injury, old age, and eventually death as well as psychological suffering like sadness, fear, frustration, disappointment and depression. Life in its totality is imperfect and incomplete, because the world is subject to impermanence. This means we are never able to permanently...