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Four Noble Truths |
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Three marks of existence |
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Gautama Buddha |
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Practices and Attainment |
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Buddhahood · Bodhisattva |
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Bhutan · Cambodia · China |
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Comparative Studies |
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Buddha was born in Shakya kingdom which lies in Rupandehi district, Lumbini zone of Nepal[1][2]. Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices The History of Buddhism spans the 6th century BCE to the present starting with the birth of the Buddha Siddhartha Gautama. Foundation to the Common Era Some sources give the date of the Buddha's birth as 563 BCE and others as 624 BCE Theravada Buddhist countries tend to use the latter figure Lists and numbering of Buddhist councils vary between and even within schools Several Buddhist terms and concepts lack direct translations into English that cover the breadth of the original term Background Why the Buddha is said to have taught in this way is illuminated by the social context of the time in which he lived In sramanic philosophy Nirvana (निर्वाण| Nirvāṇa; निब्बान Nibbāna; Prakrit: णिव्वाण The Three Jewels, also called the Three Treasures, the Three Refuges, or the Triple Gem, are the three things that Buddhists take refuge Several Buddhist terms and concepts lack direct translations into English that cover the breadth of the original term According to the Buddhist tradition all phenomena other than Nirvana, ( sankhara) are marked by three characteristics sometimes referred to as the Dharma seals In Buddhist phenomenology and Soteriology, the five skandhas ( Sanskrit) or khandhas ( Pāli) are five "aggregates" Buddhist cosmology is the description of the shape and evolution of the universe according to the canonical Buddhist scriptures and commentaries Rebirth in Buddhism is the doctrine that the consciousness of a person (as conventionally regarded upon the death or dissolution of the aggregates ( Skandhas Dhamma ( Pāli: धम्म or Dharma (धर्म in Buddhism has two primary meanings the teachings of the Buddha which lead to enlightenment The doctrine of pratītyasamutpāda (Sanskrit paticcasamuppāda; rten Karma ( Sanskrit: कर्मन karman, Pāli: कमा Kamma) means "action" or "doing" whatever A number of noted individuals have been Buddhists. Historical Buddhist thinkers and founders of schools Individuals are grouped by nationality except in cases where the Siddhārtha Gautama ( Sanskrit; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual Teacher from Ancient India and the founder A number of noted individuals have been Buddhists. Historical Buddhist thinkers and founders of schools Individuals are grouped by nationality except in cases where the In Buddhism, buddhahood ( Sanskrit: buddhatva. Pali: buddhatta. In the Buddhist context a bodhisattva (बोधिसत्त्व bodhisattva;; Vietnamese Bồ Tát; बोधिसत्त bodhisatta The four stages of Enlightenment in Buddhism are the four degrees of approach to full enlightenment as an Arahant which a person can attain in this life Theravada Buddhism Theravada Buddhism 's teachings on the paramitas can be found in late canonical books and post-canonical commentaries Buddhist meditation encompasses a variety of Meditation techniques that develop Mindfulness, concentration, tranquility and insight In English translations of Buddhist literature, householder denotes a variety of terms Obtaining exact numbers of practicing Buddhists can be difficult and may be reliant on the definition used Buddhist beliefs and practices vary according to region There are distinctions between and within the Buddhism practised in various regions including In South Asia Mahayana Buddhism is the State religion of Bhutan, and Buddhists comprise 98% of its population. History See also History of Buddhism in Cambodia Unconfirmed Singhalese sources assert that missionaries of King Asohka introduced Buddhism into Chinese Buddhism ( Pinyin fójiào refers collectively to the various schools of Buddhism that have flourished in China proper since ancient times Buddhism is a world religion which arose in Bihar, India and is based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, who is known as the Buddha (literally Among the five official religions of Indonesia, according to the state ideology of Pancasila According to Suharto, Buddhism and Hinduism were Indonesia's classical The history of Buddhism in Japan can be roughly divided into three periods namely the Nara period (up to 784 the Heian period (794–1185 and the post-Heian period Korean Buddhism is distinguished from other forms of Buddhism by its attempt to resolve what it sees as inconsistencies in Mahayana Buddhism Buddhism is the primary religion of Laos. The Buddhism practiced in Laos is of the Theravada tradition Buddhism is the second largest religion in Malaysia after Islam, with 19 Buddhism in Mongolia is essentially Tibetan Buddhism of the Gelugpa school History The history of Buddhism in Burmaextends nearly a millennium Historically Buddhism was incorporated into Russian lands as early as the late 16th century, when Russian explorers travelled to and settled in As of 2000 425% of the Singaporeans register themselves as Buddhist by religion General Buddhism in Sri Lanka is primarily of the Theravada school and constitutes the religious faith of about 70% of the populationAccording to traditional Buddhism in Thailand is largely of the Theravada school Nearly 95% of Thailand 's population is Buddhist of the Theravada school though Buddhism Tibetan Buddhism is the body of Buddhist religious doctrine and institutions characteristic of Tibet and certain regions of the Himalayas, including Buddhism came to Vietnam in the first century CE By the end of the second century Vietnam developed a major Buddhist centre in the region commonly known as the Luy Lâu Buddhism in the West broadly encompasses the knowledge and practice of Buddhism outside of Asia. The Schools of Buddhism. Buddhism is classified in various ways History Origin of the school The Theravāda school is ultimately derived from the Vibhajjavāda (or 'doctrine of analysis' grouping which was a continuation Mahayana ( Sanskrit: mahāyāna, Devanagari: महायान 'Great Vehicle' is one of the two main existing schools of Buddhism and a term for Vajrayana Buddhism is also known as Tantric Buddhism, Tantrayāna, Mantrayana, Mantranaya, Secret Mantra, Esoteric Buddhism and The Early Buddhist schools are those schools into which according to most scholars the Buddhist monastic Sangha initially split due originally to differences in The term pre-sectarian Buddhism is used by some scholars to refer to the Buddhism that existed before the various subsects of Buddhism came into being Buddhist texts can be categorized in a number of ways The Western terms "scripture" and "canonical" are applied to Buddhism in inconsistent ways by Western scholars Historicity and Background Place in the Canon Various Mahayana Sutras have been included in the Tibetan Canon and the Chinese Canon. The Tibetan Buddhist canon is a loosely defined list of Sacred texts recognized by various sects of Tibetan Buddhism. The cultural elements of Buddhism vary by region and include Buddhist Festivals and Observances Vesak The following is a List of Buddhist topics: A Abhidharma Aggañña Sutta Ahimsa 10. 74% of Nepal's population practice Buddhism, consisting mainly of groups of Tibeto-Burman origin [3]. Nepal (नेपाल) is a Landlocked country in South Asia. The Tibeto-Burman family of languages (often considered a sub-group of the Sino-Tibetan Language family) is spoken in various central and south Asian countries including
Overview
Buddhist influences are evident in the culture of Nepal owing to the fact that Buddha was born in a part of Ancient India within the borders of present-day Nepal and his clan Shakya moved to Kathmandu valley and have incorporated into Newars. Nepal has strong Buddhist background and has played role in spread of Buddhism to Tibet. Nepalese princess Bhrikuti played a significant role in development of Buddhism in Tibet and Far East. The Nepali Princess Bhrikuti Devi, known to Tibetans as Bal-mo-bza' Khri-btsun, Bhelsa Tritsun ('Nepali consort' or simply Khri bTsun ("Royal Tibetan Buddhist architecture has long been influenced by Nepalese artists and sculptors like Araniko. Araniko (real name Balabahu) was a Nepalese Architect born in the 13th century AD in Kathmandu. The sacred Buddhist texts in Mahayana Buddhism are mainly written in Ranjana script (the script of Newars) or scripts like Lantsa which are derived fron Ranjana. The Ranjana script (syn Kutila, Lantsa) is an Abugida writing system developed as a derivate of Brāhmī in 11th century
In the Tibeto-Burman tribes, Tibetan Buddhism is the most widely practised form. Tibetan Buddhism is the body of Buddhist religious doctrine and institutions characteristic of Tibet and certain regions of the Himalayas, including Newar practice Newar variant of Vajrayana Buddhism and Thervada Buddhism. The Newa ( Nepal Bhasa:नेवाः Newa or Newah, Old Nepal Bhasa नेवार Newar, नेवाल Newal) are the Newar Buddhism is the form of Mahayana - Vajrayana Buddhism practiced by the Newar ethnic community of the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal Vajrayana Buddhism is also known as Tantric Buddhism, Tantrayāna, Mantrayana, Mantranaya, Secret Mantra, Esoteric Buddhism and Many Buddhist groups are also influenced by Hinduism.
Buddhism is the dominant religion of the thinly-populated northern areas, which are inhabited by Tibetan-related peoples, namely the Sherpa, Lopa, Manangi, Thakali, Lhomi, Dolpa and Nyimba. For other uses of the word Sherpa see Sherpa (disambiguation. The Thakali ethnolinguistic group originated from the Thak Khola region of the Mustang district in the Dhaulagiri zone of Nepal. Dolpa District is one of the five districts of Karnali Zone in Nepal - a landlocked country of South Asia. They constitute a small minority of the country's population.
Ethnic groups that live in central Nepal, such as Gurung, Lepcha, Tamang, Magar, Newar, Yakkha, Thami and Chepang, are also followers of Buddhism. Nepal (नेपाल) is a Landlocked country in South Asia. Gurung (surnameThe Gurung is an ethnic group from the Central region of Nepal. Tamangs are mainly found in the districts of Rasuwa Sindhupalchok Kavrepalanchok Makwanpur Nuwakot Dhading Ramechhap Dolkha, Sindhuli Kathmandu Bhaktapur and Lalitpur The Newa ( Nepal Bhasa:नेवाः Newa or Newah, Old Nepal Bhasa नेवार Newar, नेवाल Newal) are the The Yakkha The indigenous Yakkha (identical with its Kirat family Rai Limbu and Sunuwar of the Mongolian physiognomy is one of the progenesis of Nepal's prehistoric The Thami are an indigenous tribe of hills east of Kathmandu, Nepal 's capital Chepang is the commonly used name given to an indigenous ethnic group living in central and southern Nepal. These ethnic groups have larger populations compared to their northern neighbours. They came under the influence of Hinduism due to their close contacts with the Hindu castes. In turn, many of them eventually adopted Hinduism and have been largely integrated into the caste system.
The Kirant tribes, especially the Limbu and the Rai, have also adopted Tibetan Buddhist practises from their Buddhist neighbours. The Rai, also known as the Khambu (people of Khumbu region is one of Nepal 's most ancient indigenous ethnolinguistic groups The Jirel, which is considered a Kirata tribe, have also adopted Tibetan Buddhism. The Jirel (also known as Jiripas) of Nepal are both ethnically and linguistically related to both the Sherpas and Sunuwars. The Kirata ( Sanskrit: किराट is a generic term in Sanskrit literature for people who lived in the mountains particularly in the Himalayas and
History
Buddhism during pre-Licchavi preiod (before 400)
Shakya clans of Lumbini
Buddha was born in Lumbini (which is now in Nepal). According to Tripitaka, he visited his father's kingdom and converted his family and clan to Buddhism. The Shakya clans later moved to Kathmandu valley and helped establish Buddhism there.
Kathmandu valley
Buddha visited Kathmandu valley during the reign of Kirat king Jitedasti.
Emperor Ashoka from India put up a pillar at Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha in the 2nd century BC. It is also believed that Ashoka went to Patan and had four stupas built there. A stupa (from Sanskrit and Pāli: m स्तूप stūpa, literally meaning "heap" is a mound-like structure containing Buddhist It is believed that his daughter Charumati established the village of Chabahil, which is located between Kathmandu and Bodhnath. There is a stupa and monastery in Chabahil that are said to date back to her time.
It is said that upon the expansion of the Mauryan dynasty into the Terai plains in Nepal, Buddhism was adopted by the ancestors of the Tharu and flourished until the resurgent Licchavi repelled its adherents in AD 200. Nepal (नेपाल) is a Landlocked country in South Asia. The Tharu people are Indigenous people living in the Surkhet Valley in the west mountain region Chitwan Valley Dang ValleyDeukhuri ValleySindhuli and Udyapur Events By Place World Human population reaches about 257 million But, in fact, the Tharu are the remnants of ancient Sakya, Koliya, Mourya and many other ancient tribes. The Tharu people are Indigenous people living in the Surkhet Valley in the west mountain region Chitwan Valley Dang ValleyDeukhuri ValleySindhuli and Udyapur Thus, obviously, Buddhism in Nepal has been flourishing since Buddha's time if we consider ancient Kapilvastu and Devdah in Nepal.
Buddhism during the Licchavi period (400-750)
The Licchavi period saw the flourishing of both Hinduism and Buddhism in Nepal. Excellent examples of Buddhist art of the period are the half-sunken Buddha in Pashupatinath, the sleeping Vishnu in Budhanilkantha, and the statue of Buddha and the various representations of Vishnu in Changu Narayan.
Ancient Buddhist texts claim that Mulasarvasti Vadavinaya (better known as the Shakyas of Kapilvastu, Bhikshu Ananda, and the Baniyas of Sravasti) came to Nepal, then known as Newal, from Tibet. Nepal (नेपाल) is a Landlocked country in South Asia. Definitions of Tibet See also Definitions of Tibet Name In English The English word Tibet, like the word for Tibet in most European
Another Buddhist text, the Manjushrimula Kalpa, mentioned Manadeva as the King of Nepal Mandala. Researchers believe the Mulasarvastivadavinaya was written in the 2nd century CE, and that the Manjushriulakalpa was written during Manadeva's reign. The Swayambhu Purana, the ancient Buddhist Purana text, and a Licchavi inscription all mentioned Nepal Mandala.
Buddhist inscriptions and chronicles and Tibetan sources also record a few tantric Buddhist deities, namely Aksyobhya, Amitabha, Vajrayogini, Vajrabhairava, Usnisavijaya and Samantabhadra. Uṣṇīṣavijayā (gTsug-tor rNam-par rGyal-ma English: victorious goddess of the Usnisa) is a Goddess of longevity in Buddhism Strong influence from Animist cults resulted in belief in Buddhist deities such as the Pancaraksas.
Religious tolerance and syncretism were stressed during the Licchavi period. King Manadeva paid homage at both Hindu and Buddhist sites. His family subsequently found expression for their beliefs in various different religions.
The worship of the Caitya and the Rath Jatra cart festival of Avalokitesvara were introduced around this period. Many ancient sites in the Kathmandu Valley were identified with major Buddhist Caityas, such as Swayambhu Mahacaitya, Boudnanath Stupa, Kathmandu and the four "Ashoka" stupas of Patan, and another two hundred stone caityas dating from the Licchavi Period, were testified to the widespread antiquity of caitya worship. Boudhanath ( Devnagari: बूदनाथ (also called Bouddhanath, Bodhnath or Baudhanath or the Khāsa Caitya) is one of the holiest
It is possible that this practice, in its earliest incarnation, was related to the worship of stones, which may have originated in the early, rival Kirata inhabitants of the Valley, prior to the Licchavis. According to one of the earliest Licchavi inscriptions, Caitya worship ordinarily consisted of ritual circumambulation of the caitya and offering standard items such as incense, colored powder, oil lamps and ablutions. At times, the inscriptions indicate, it could even involve resurfacing an existing Caitya and covering the new surface with many elaborate paintings.
Caitya worship was an important factor in bringing more of the proto-Newar tribal inhabitants into the Buddhist fold, as it was a devotional practice designed for the general public. Thus, the masses probably began practicing the cart festival of Avalokitesvara/ Matsyendranath (Bungakya) during the latter half of the seventh century A. D.
This festival was celebrated by hundreds or even thousands of people, who helped to construct and transport a huge, wheeled cart that bore the image of Avalokitesvara for several days or weeks along a specific route. Avalokiteśvara ( Nepali: अवलोकितेश्वर, lit The introduction of this festival must have been an instant success among the majority of the Kathmandu Valley population. This strengthened Buddhism's standing in relation to the other Hindu and Animist faiths of the Valley at the time.
Forty stone inscriptions made some mention of Buddhism throughout the Licchavi period. Most of the references are concerned with monasticism. However, almost nothing is known about the day-to-day life in the Vihara monasteries or how they functioned administratively.
The names of the fifteen Buddhist monasteries are known, and it is clear from the context in which some of these are named that they are among the most important religious sites of that time. It is not known for certain what schools of Buddhism were most prominent at the time. But the strongest early influences (aside from an even earlier probable substratum of Pali Buddhism) probably came from the Mahasanghika, Sammitiya and the Sarvastivada schools. The Makhyamaka and Yogacara schools were thought to be more influential in the later period with the emergence and growth of the Vajrayana school.
Inscriptional evidence also proves that there was a string of traditional methods of making religious gifts. These offerings were used for earning blessing and making merit, and the women of the Buddhist seem to have taken the lead in offering these gifts. Strikingly, parallel points within the Buddhist cave contain inscriptions of Maharastra, which predated the Licchvi Nepal. The references in the Licchavi inscriptions to the Mahayana and Vajrayana will be mentioned below in connection with Buddhist art and notable Buddhist figures of the Licchavi period.
Buddhism during the Thakuri period (600-1200)
The first Thaukri king, Amsuvarma, married his daughter Bhrikuti to the ruler of Tibet, King Songtsen Gampo. The Nepali Princess Bhrikuti Devi, known to Tibetans as Bal-mo-bza' Khri-btsun, Bhelsa Tritsun ('Nepali consort' or simply Khri bTsun ("Royal Songtsän Gampo ( Tibetan: སྲོང་བཙན་སྒམ་པོ་ Wylie: Srong-btsan According to legend, she received the begging bowl of the Buddha as part of her wedding dowry. It is believed that she introduced Buddhism into Tibet. she is also believed as a reincarnation of the Green Tara of Tibetan Buddhism, who is seen in many Buddhist Thangkas. Thakuri period is known as the golden time for Buddhism.
Buddhism during the Malla dynasty (1200-1769)
The Malla dynasty saw to the golden period of the syncretism of Hindu and Buddhist art forms by the Newar. The Newa ( Nepal Bhasa:नेवाः Newa or Newah, Old Nepal Bhasa नेवार Newar, नेवाल Newal) are the The Paubha, the Newari counterpart of the Tibetan Buddhist Thangka, flourished in this period.
Buddhism during the Shah dynasty (1769-1846)
The Shah dynasty saw the decline of Buddhism in Nepal where it eventually merged with Hinduism as the Hindu Gurkha rose to prominence. Nepal (नेपाल) is a Landlocked country in South Asia. Hinduism is a religious tradition that originated in the Indian subcontinent. Prithvi Naraya Shahdev and Sri Teen Maharaja Jung Bahadur The Way of Sacrifice The Rajputs Pages 28-30 Graduate Thesis South Asian Studies Department Dr In the north, the Mustang kingdom ruled by the Buddhist Lopa and the Thakali saw to the flourishing of Vajrayana (Tibetan Buddhism) in the North. Mustang is from Tibetan Mun Tan ( Wylie smon-thang) which denotes fertile plain The Thakali ethnolinguistic group originated from the Thak Khola region of the Mustang district in the Dhaulagiri zone of Nepal.
Buddhism during the Rana dynasty (1846-1951)
Modern Newar Buddhist practises in Nepal have largely been absorbed into mainstream Hinduism, although certain distinct practises, artforms and castes do remain. Nepal (नेपाल) is a Landlocked country in South Asia. Hinduism is a religious tradition that originated in the Indian subcontinent. In the north, people of Tibetan origin continued to be the much-unchanged practises of Tibetan Buddhism, especially in the case of the Nyimba of Northwest Nepal. Nepal (नेपाल) is a Landlocked country in South Asia. On the other hand, the Thakali, who had traditionally played an important role in the Nepali society but yet retained Tibetan Buddhism, have begun to embrace Hinduism as well in the recent years. The Thakali ethnolinguistic group originated from the Thak Khola region of the Mustang district in the Dhaulagiri zone of Nepal. Tibetan Buddhism is the body of Buddhist religious doctrine and institutions characteristic of Tibet and certain regions of the Himalayas, including
Shah Dyansty (1951-2006)
After the overthrown of Rana dynasty in 1951, Buddhism gradually developed in the country. Theravadin Buddhist played a great significance role for the Buddhist revival campaign in modern Nepal since 1920s. This revival movement has changed Buddhism from ethnic-religion of some ethnic groups and castes into beyond the caste and ethnic religion in Nepal. Presently, there are three main Buddhist schools; Tibetan Buddhism, Newar Buddhism and Theravada Buddhism. Tibetan Buddhism is the body of Buddhist religious doctrine and institutions characteristic of Tibet and certain regions of the Himalayas, including Newar Buddhism is the form of Mahayana - Vajrayana Buddhism practiced by the Newar ethnic community of the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal History Origin of the school The Theravāda school is ultimately derived from the Vibhajjavāda (or 'doctrine of analysis' grouping which was a continuation
Tourism is another important factor for promoting Nepali Buddhism to the world. Every year, Kathmandu can receive more than 10,000 travellers from all over the world just to visit the Boudha Chetiya and the Swayambhu Chetiya stupas. Kathmandu (काठमांडौ येँ is the Capital and the largest city of Nepal. These are the remarkable and significant architect, which only found in Nepal. Apart from these two main Buddhist monuments there are hundreds of Buddhist monuments every corner of streets of Kathmandu and some other main cities of Nepal.
End of Shah Dyanasty (2006-present)
Nepal became secular country. All religion got equal opportunities to propagate according to their believe. Thus, the role the Buddhist tradition played, is playing and will play to smoothly run social, strengthen it and extend it widely from the narrow frontiers is a great thing worth appreciation.
Current Status
According to 2001 census, the adherents of Buddhism are as follows-
| Ethnic Group | Total Population | Total Buddhist | Percentage Buddhist |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tamang | 1,282,304 | 1157461 | 90. 3 |
| Magar | 24. 5 | ||
| Gurung | 69 | ||
| Newar | 1,242,232 | 190,629 | 15. 3 |
| Sherpa | 92. 8 | ||
| Bhote | 60. 5 | ||
| Thakali | 65 | ||
| Chantel | 64. 2 | ||
| Jirel | 87 | ||
| Lepcha | 88. 8 | ||
| Yehlmo | 98. 4 |
References
- ^ Holy Sites of Buddhism: Lumbini - Buddha's Birthplace
- ^ Lumbini, the Birthplace of the Lord Buddha - UNESCO World Heritage Centre
- ^ Population Monograph of Nepal, Volume 1, Page 104, Published by Central Bureau of Statistics, 2003 based on census 2001
External links
- Buddhism in Nepal
- Vajrayana Vipassyana - by Ācārya Dharma Vajra (Sridhar SJB Rana)
- Theravada Buddhism in Modern Nepal -Phra Sujan Maharjan
- The Role of Theravada Buddhism -Bhikshu Sudarshan Mahasthavir
- Theravada Buddhism in Nepal -Bhikkhu Kondanya
- Nepal Vipassana Centers - S. N. Goenka
- Buddhist Women of Nepal -Sakyadhita
- Nagarjuna Institute of Exact Studies
- Buddhactivity Dharma Centres database
Bhodnath Stupa is again a main temple where Buddhism is Preached.
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