After some unfruitful attempts, he sat down under a tree and promised himself to not move from there until he figures out the specific answers to his questions. After several days spent under the tree, he finally found the answer to the question of suffering and earned the title of Buddha, which means the one "who has awoken". ... Buddha gives a specific eightfold path to follow, called Marga. ... This idea of Karma gives rise to another principle of Buddhism, called rebirth and which is also inspired from Hinduism. ...

• Word Count: 2720
• Approx Pages: 11
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

After this people started to give names to the rituals that they performed for these gods and thus religions were created. ... For instance, religion tries to answer all of the deepest questions that people have, and for some it would help to give a sense of their place in the universe. ... Finally, while meditating under the bodhi tree ("tree of perfect knowledge-) he reached enlightenment and taught his followers about his new spiritual understanding. ...

• Word Count: 2765
• Approx Pages: 11
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

There are 750 million+ Hindus in the world, most concentrated in India (pearls.org). Before elaborating on what beliefs and practices Hinduism has, perhaps it is helpful to first consider the "familiar to a Westerner" features that it doesn't have. There is no "founder" of Hinduism and no specific time it "began" (i.e. Jesus or Buddha's birth). There is not a set of scriptures that has authority over all other texts of its religion (i.e. ...

• Word Count: 2794
• Approx Pages: 11
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

The power of the rituals manifests when you engage in them fully and give yourself to them completely, with your entire heart and mind. ... The couple usually gives each other rings, and the thumbs of their right hands are tied together or the monks would tie thread or silk scarf around the wrist of the groom - usually the right hand. ... The relatives perform the symbolic actions of giving the white cloth which covers the coffin to the monks, and the mourners pour water into a cup until it overflows, symbolising the transfer of merit to the deceased. The monks will then recite suitable vers...

• Word Count: 3001
• Approx Pages: 12
• Has Bibliography

At the age of thirty-five, Siddharta Gautama sat down beneath the shade of a tree to meditate, and stayed under it until he received enlightenment seven weeks later. ... Thich Nhat Hanh, in The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching, gives us this insight into the truth of suffering. ... Only when we are able to give up useless desires and when we are able to learn to take each day at a time, enjoying the experiences that life offers us, patiently facing those problems that life involves without fear, hatred and anger, only then will we become happy and free human beings. ... (Maitreya 56) Thich ...

• Word Count: 2687
• Approx Pages: 11
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School