The Contributions of Buddhism to the Asian Cultures
Viewing Buddhism as a mystical religion far removed from the pressures and dynamics of capitalism is a popular belief but one which is far removed from the realities at the core of the religion. Buddhism has always faced this confusion, since there has always been "a tension between the this-worldly and the other-worldly. This tension was at the heart of many early doctrinal controversies about such matters as the nature of Nirvana, the purpose of monastic life, and the character of the relationship between monks and the laity" (Swearer, 1997, 81). It is this built in dichotomy between "this world" and "other world" that both hastened Buddhism's spread and caused resistance to what many nations saw (and some still see) as an encroachment. Is Buddhism that hard to understand? This analysis will trace its birth, its regional development, and make some assumptions about its future.
Some 2500 years ago in Nepal, Siddhartha Gautama, also known as the Buddha, or Enlightened One, was born. As Heinrich (1963) points out, Siddartha was born into a time of unusual upheaval and change throughout the world, based upon the fact that society had widely adopted the use of iron tools and weapons. This change in society had impacts on other societies besides India. As Swearer points out, "elsewhere in the ancient world, similar changes were bringing forth other thinkers and prophets, from Confucius and Lao-tse in China to Thales, Heraclitus, and other pre-Socratics in Greece" (Swearer, 1997, 81). Solid facts about the Buddha's life are scarce. The most popular myth has it that the Buddha was born Prince Siddhartha Gautama, the son of the ruler of the Sakya clan in the foothills of the Himalayas (Kapleau, 1966). To make sure that Siddhartha succeeded him, his father built incredible pleasure palaces for the young prince and filled a garden with all sorts of sensual pleasures.
In...