Unit Three: Buddhism Essay Topics
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What's the basic story of the historical Buddha?
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The historical Buddha has often been compared to a physician who diagnosed the human condition and prescribed a cure. First, describe his diagnosis and prescription. The more details and examples, the better. Then, say whether YOU might be better off if you were to choose him as your own doctor.
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↳ The first two noble truths, dukka and samudaya, are diagnosing the problem of suffering and are the identifying causes. ↳ Third noble truth, nirdoha, is the realization that there is in fact a cure to suffering. ↳ The fourth, magga, is where Buddha set out the Eightfold Path which can be interpreted as the prescription
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Compare/contrast Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism.
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Why is the idea of rebirth so problematic or paradoxical in Buddhism? How do Hinduism and Buddhism differ on this topic, and how do Buddhists explain the idea of rebirth?
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The second sentence of your textbook's chapter on Buddhism is the following: \"The responsibility for spiritual development in Buddhism rests totally upon the individual.\" Now that you have learned more about Buddhism, what's your assessment of that sentence?
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Explain the Buddhist ideal of the Middle Way.
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↳ Most simply, it implies a balanced approach to life and the regulation of one's impulses and behavior ↳ The Middle Way is an ongoing effort that never stops ↳ Refers to the correct view of life that the Buddha teaches, and to the actions or attitudes that will create happiness for oneself and others ↳ Indicating a transcendence and reconciliation of the extremes of opposing views
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Describe the layout of a bhavachakra and explain how it teaches dharma.
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↳ The three together drive Samsara and can either be interpreted as chasing one another or eating one another ↳ Bird = attachment, grasping ↳ Snake = temptation, anger, immediate lashing out ↳ Wild Boar = ignorance of the transitory ↳ Ghosts are plump because they're hungry for more ↳ Cold/hot hells = seed of anger ↳ World of animals that are nasty, brutish, etc. ↳ Gods live in a paradise but they still suffer without liberation ↳ World of Titans = ambition, envy ↳ World of Men = driven by egoism and ignorance, repeated cycle of birth, sickness, and death
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How does Buddhism grow out of but also change Hinduism?
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Why can we describe Daoism and Confucianism as the Yin and Yang of Chinese culture? How does Buddhism fit into the mix?
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