Buddhism is a religion that has been under pressure for hundreds of years. Specifically in China, the acceptance of the religion was a hard, long battle that formed demise and refute amongst the society. Emperors, Scholars, and even anonymous Chinese writers voiced their opinions for and against Buddhism. Many controversial arguments are held today. Emperor Wu of the Tang Dynasty (845 C.E.), did not respect Buddhism as a religion. He described the practice as a “vine until it has poisoned the customs of our nation”. (Doc. six.) This document displays Emperor Wu’s dislike for the religion. When the Buddhists leave their jobs to become Monks and Nuns, they lose their economic growth as well. “If even one man fails to work the fields, …show more content…
These sets of laws were part of the first sermon preached by Buddha in the fifth century B.C.E. The first truth is sorrow, “Birth is sorrow, age is sorrow, disease is sorrow, death is sorrow, contact with the unpleasant is sorrow, separation from the pleasant is sorrow, every wish unfulfilled is sorrow”. The second truth is the arising of sorrow, “it arises from craving, which leads to rebirth, which brings delight and passion, and seeks pleasure- the craving for sensual pleasure, the craving for continued life, and the craving for power”. The third truth is the stopping of sorrow, “It is the complete stopping of that craving, so that no passion remains, leaving it, being emancipated from it, being released from it, giving no place to it”. The fourth truth is “the way that leads to the stopping of sorrow”. (Doc. one.) Document one is a cultural and social outlook. Without the Four Noble Truths, there might be less optimism. Optimism is not always a good thing, especially when it is the fuel to anticipation for a victory that is not calculated to be true. There would be less disappointment after losing, or not getting what was expected. The Four Noble Truths were intended to stop …show more content…
“If Buddhism is the greatest and most venerable of ways, why did the great sages of the past and Confucius not practice it?” This is the person’s first question and the answer is “All written works need not necessarily be the words of Confucius. To compare the sages to the Buddha would be like comparing a white deer to a unicorn, or a swallow to a phoenix.” (Doc. three.) The next question about Buddhism contains the need and respect for family. “Now of happiness there is none greater than the confirmation of one’s line, of unfilial conduct there is none worse than childlessness. The monks forsake wives and children, reject property and wealth, Some do not marry all their lives.” In China, having a family is crucial. To the monks, family is just another pleasure that they do not need. “Wives, children, and property are the luxuries of the world, but simple living and inaction are the wonders of the Way. The monk practices the Way and substitutes that for worldly pleasures. He accumulates goodness and wisdom in exchange for the joys of having a wife and child.” (Doc.