What is Western Buddhism?

Buddhism in the West (or more narrowly Western Buddhism) broadly encompasses the knowledge and practice of Buddhism outside of Asia in the Western world. They became influential figures during the reigns of the Indo-Greek kings, whose patronage of Buddhism led to the emergence of Greco-Buddhism and Greco-Buddhist art.

What is the difference in Buddhism?

Compassion is very important in Mahayana Buddhism. This is a key difference between Theravada and Mahayana Buddhists. Whereas Theravada Buddhists strive to become Arhats and gain freedom from the cycle of samsara, Mahayana Buddhists may choose to stay in the cycle of samsara out of compassion for others.

How did ASIA change Buddhism?

By contrast, as Buddhism spread along land routes, it underwent profound change. There were great overland trade routes in those days and in later centuries too, that joined China even to the Mediterranean. Along these routes Buddhism proliferated to northwest India and beyond, along the fabled east-west Silk Route.

What is Asia Buddhism?

Buddhism in Southeast Asia includes a variety of traditions of Buddhism including two main traditions: Mahāyāna Buddhism and Theravāda Buddhism. Mahāyāna Buddhism is the predominant religion of Chinese communities in Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia.

How did Buddhism reach the Western countries?

Buddhism first came to North America through Chinese immigrants who settled in the western parts of the United States beginning in the 1840s, as well as by North Americans and Europeans who visited Asia and brought back with them Buddhist texts.

How is Buddhism different from Western religions?

Unlike monotheistic religions, Buddhism does not deify its founder, Gautama Siddhartha, but teaches the history of his life and how he came to enlightenment. Rather than being caused by external circumstances or deeds, Buddhism teaches that suffering is rooted in the state of one’s mind.

Why is Buddhism so popular in Asia?

Going back to the question, why is it so popular in Asia? because it is a religion that was born in ASIA, geographically unlike Christianity and Islam who came much later, Buddhism started out somewhere near Nepal and India, it gives them the advantage of taking roots and spread their teachings in Asia.

Why is Buddhism important to East Asia?

Buddhism was introduced to China during the Han dynasty via the Silk Road and sea trade routes with India and maritime Southeast Asia. Early efforts to organize and interpret the wide range of texts received gave rise to early Chinese Buddhist schools like the Huayan and Tiantai schools.

Why is Buddhism popular in Asia?

Many people in Asia and the West are attracted to Buddhism. This is because of this religion’s ‘image’ of being exotic and authentic. Buddhism originated in India and spread to Tibet from the year 700 AD onwards. Tibetan Buddhism attracted many people and it still does.

Who spread Buddhism to Asia?

Ashoka promoted Buddhist expansion by sending monks to surrounding territories to share the teachings of the Buddha. A wave of conversion began, and Buddhism spread not only through India, but also internationally.

What is the difference between Buddhism in Asia and the west?

So in Asia, the average person (if not a monk) knows little about Buddhism apart from more cultural teachings whereas in the West, the average Buddhist is more learned. That said, the more cultural or superstitious aspects of Buddhism are growing in the West as Buddhism finds a broader audience.

Is there a western approach to Buddhist philosophy?

Likewise, in Asian nations with Buddhist populations, there were also attempts to bring the insights of Western thought to Buddhist philosophy, as can be seen in the rise of Buddhist modernism . After WWII spread of Buddhism to the West scholarly interest arose in a comparative, cross-cultural approach between Eastern and Western philosophy.

What is the relationship between Western culture and Buddhist culture?

The first contact between Western culture and Buddhist culture occurred during Alexander the Great ‘s conquest of India. After Alexander’s conquest, Greek colonists established cities and kingdoms in Bactria and India where Buddhism was thriving.

What is the difference between Buddhism and atheism?

Buddhism in the West has a tendency to be seen through the eyes of Western religion because that is what they understand. Again I bring you back to how an Asian atheist would still worship and pray whereas a Western atheist see those as trappings of belief of God and institutions of God entity.