Types of Buddhism: Zen Buddhism

The main focus that I have noticed with this practice is attaining enlightenment through your own personal experiences. Which basically means everybody has there own story or own way of getting were they want to be in life and to reach enlightenment. A perfect way to explain this is with the quote “to each his own” because that’s basically what your doing your finding your own way to enlightenment and just use rough guidelines to help you start your own path to enlightenment.

“Zen Buddhism is  originated in China with the teachings of the monk Bodhidharma. Zen Buddhism treats zazen meditation and daily practice as essential for attaining Enlightenment.”

ZEN

Types of Buddhism: Vajrayana

The main focus that I have noticed with this form of Buddhism practice is extremely complex. It has to do with tantra’s which means the liberation of energy and expansion of consciousness from its gross form. It also focuses on having a guru and disciple teaching in which focuses on finding one of three routes of enlightenment which is very complex. Overall the understanding of it is very confusing in general because there are many different levels of it. The best and only word I can describe this with is COMPLEX, COMPLEX,COMPLEX! It is a very serious practice.

“This was last of the three ancient forms to develop, and provides a quicker path to Enlightenment than either the Theravada or Mahayana schools. They believe that the physical has an effect on the spiritual and that the spiritual, in turn, affects the physical. Vajrayana Buddhists encourage rituals, chanting, and tantra techniques, along with a fundamental understanding of Theravada and Mahayana schools, as the way to attain Enlightenment.”

Vajrayana

Types of Buddhism: Theravada the granfather of buddhism

This is one of the oldest forms and practices of Buddhism that is still learned today! I like calling it the grandfather of Buddhism because many of the other forms of Buddhism have branched off from this one. This ancient form is mostly practiced in India and some areas of southeastern parts of Asia like Cambodia and Thailand.

“The most ancient form of Buddhism, is the dominant school in Southeast Asia (Thailand, Myanmar/Burma, Cambodia, and Laos). Its name translates to “Doctrine of the Elders,” and it centers around the Pali scriptures, transcribed from the oral tradition taught by the Buddha. By studying these ancient texts, meditating, and following the eightfold path, Theravada Buddhists believe they will achieve Enlightenment. Strong emphasis is also placed on the monastic community and on heeding the advice of the wise.”

Theravada

Types of Buddhism:Mahayana Buddhism

I like this form of Buddhism the most because its so broad and open and it is practiced over many areas all over the world. It focuses on the path of seeking complete enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings. Like Theravada ( but still not as old because Theravada is the original form from which Mahayana came from) it is also one of the oldest and largest used forms of Buddhist practice.

“Mahayana Buddhism developed out of the Theravada tradition roughly 500 years after the Buddha attained Enlightenment. A number of individual schools and traditions have formed under the banner of Mahayana, including Zen Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism, Pure Land Buddhism, and Tantric Buddhism. Mahayana Buddhism focuses on the idea of compassion and touts bodhisattvas, which are beings that work out of compassion to liberate other sentient beings from their suffering, as central devotional figures.”

Mahayana

Meditation

Here is a video that talks about meditation. Meditation plays a big part in many Buddhist practices. it’s a big part of finding inner peace and enlightenment

Enlightenment and Nirvana

A major part of understanding Buddhism is understanding meditation and the purpose of the meditation. This purpose is to reach Nirvana which is The End of Suffering in this lifetime and all future lifetimes. another reason is to make your self reach enlightenment which is the Wisdom of Emptiness the wisdom that arises from the direct experience of all phenomena being empty of independent existence.this is a link to a good website that explains nirvana and enlightenment both. Nirvana

Awesome documentary on buddhism

This is a awesome documentary on Buddhism its not dry like most its quite interesting and has alot of good information in it it talks about how it all began.