For more background on this topic, see Culture of Austria. Buddhism is a legally recognized religion in Austria and it is followed by more than 10,000 Austrians. Although still small in absolute numbers (10,402 at the 2001 census), Buddhism in Austria enjoys widespread acceptance if not popularity. A majority of Buddhists in the country are Austrian nationals (some of them naturalized after immigration from Asia, predominantly from China and Vietnam), ...

Including:

• Buddhism in Austria - History
• Buddhism in Austria - Early Years
• Buddhism in Austria - After World War II
• Buddhism in Austria - Buddhism recognized
• Buddhism in Austria - Buddhist religious instruction at Austrian schools

Read more here: » Buddhism in Austria: Encyclopedia - Buddhism in Austria

See also:

Early Buddhist schools, Early Buddhist schools - The first division, Early Buddhist schools - Further development, Early Buddhist schools - Number, Early Buddhist schools - Legacy

Read more here: » Early Buddhist schools: Encyclopedia II - Early Buddhist schools - Legacy

Following the first division, the Mahāsanghikas split into several sub-schools of minor importance. The Sthaviravādin School had, by the time of King Ashoka divided into three sub-schools. It was regrouped during the Third Council under the name of Vibhajjavdins, but later it reverted back to its old name in the Pali language as Theravada. The Sammitīya School later became known as the Pudgalavādin but died out around the 9th or 10th century CE. The Sarvāstivādin school was most prominen ...

See also:

Early Buddhist schools, Early Buddhist schools - The first division, Early Buddhist schools - Further development, Early Buddhist schools - Number, Early Buddhist schools - Legacy

Read more here: » Early Buddhist schools: Encyclopedia II - Early Buddhist schools - Further development

Theravada is the single remaining representative of the eighteen (or twenty) Nikaya schools of Indian Buddhism, which are sometimes referred to by the controversial term Hinayana. Theravada is now practiced mainly in Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. Another prominent Nikaya school, was the Sarvastivada, much of the doctrine of which was incorporated into Tibetan Buddhism. It included one of the main branches of Indian Abhidharma that was instrumental in the creation of Yogacara doctrine. Its system of monastic ru ...

Including:

• Buddhism in India - Characteristics
• Buddhism in India - Mahayana
• Buddhism in India - Vajrayana
• Buddhism in India - History
• Buddhism in India - Modern Revival

Read more here: » Buddhism in India

The Pudgalavāda or "Personalist" school of Buddhism broke off from the orthodox Sthaviravāda (elders) school around 280 BCE. The Sthaviravādins interpreted the doctrine of anatta to mean that, since there is no true "self", all that we think of as a self (i.e., the subject of sentences, the being that transmigrates) is merely the aggregated skandhas. The Pudgalavādins asserted that, while there is no ātman, there is a pudgala or "person", which is neither the same as nor different from the skandhas. They would argue that without such a person, it is imp ...

Read more here: » Pudgalavada: Encyclopedia - Pudgalavada

There are many divisions and subdivisions of the schools of Buddhism. An extensive list of historical schools is given below according to lineage. Surviving schools can be roughly grouped under the categories of Theravāda, Mahāyāna, and Vajrayāna. Theravāda and Mahāyāna share common methods as sutric schools, while Vajrayāna can be seen as a tantric school. Schools of Buddhism - Nikaya schools. See also: early Buddhist schools The initial split between Sthaviravāda and Mahāsaṃghika ... Including: Schools of Buddhism - Nikaya schools Schools of Buddhism - Theravada schools Schools of Buddhism - Mahāyāna schools Schools of Buddhism - Tantric schools)

Read more here: » Schools of Buddhism

The history of Buddhism in Japan can be roughly divided into three periods, namely the Nara period (up to 784), the Heian period (794-1185) and the post-Kamakura period (1185 onwards). Each period saw the introduction of new doctrines and upheavals in existing schools. Buddhism in Japan - Early Chinese accounts. In 467 CE, according to the Chinese historic treatise Liang Shu, five monks from Gandhara traveled to the country of Fusang (Chinese: 扶桑, Jp: Fusō: "The country of the extreme East" beyo ...

Including:

• Buddhism in Japan - Early Chinese accounts
• Buddhism in Japan - Nara Period
• Buddhism in Japan - Jojitsu
• Buddhism in Japan - Kusha
• Buddhism in Japan - Sanron
• Buddhism in Japan - Hosso
• Buddhism in Japan - Kegon
• Buddhism in Japan - Heian Period
• Buddhism in Japan - Tendai
• Buddhism in Japan - Shingon
• Buddhism in Japan - Kamakura to Modern Period
• Buddhism in Japan - Amidist Schools
• Buddhism in Japan - Zen Schools
• Buddhism in Japan - Nichiren Buddhism
• Buddhism in Japan - Timeline

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Christ and Budda: Jesus Through Buddhist Eyes

His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, speaking to a capacity audience in the Albert Hall in 1984 united his listeners instantly with one simple statement: "All beings want to be happy; they want to avoid pain and suffering." I was impressed at how he was able to touch what we share as human beings. He affirmed our common humanity, without in any way dismissing the obvious differences.

When invited to look at 'Jesus through Buddhist eyes', I had imagined that I would use a 'compare and contrast' approach, rather like a school essay. I was brought us as a Christian and turned to Buddhism in my early thirties, so of course I have ideas about both traditions: the one I grew up in and turned aside from, and the one I adopted and continue to practise within. But after re-reading some of the gospel stories, I would like to meet Jesus again with fresh eyes, and to examine the extent to which he and the Buddha were in fact offering the same guidance, even though the traditions of Christianity and Buddhism can appear in the surface to be rather different.

Read more here: » Christ and Budda: Jesus Through Buddhist Eyes

The Sautrāntika school of Buddhism split from the Sarvāstivādins sometime between 50 BCE and c. 100 CE. The Sautrāntikas spurned the Abhidharma literature in favor of the original sutras of the canon; thus their name. The used the concept of an āśraya (substrate, refuge) where the Pudgalavādins and the Vātsiputrīya school posited a pudgala, and where mainstream Indian philosophy typically referred to an ātman. Some of thei ...

Read more here: » Sautrantaka: Encyclopedia - Sautrantaka

Buddhism in India - Nikaya. Theravada is the single remaining representative of the eighteen (or twenty) Nikaya schools of Indian Buddhism, which are sometimes referred to by the controversial term Hinayana. Theravada is now practiced mainly in Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. Another prominent Nikaya school, was the Sarvastivada, much of the doctrine of which was incorporated into Tibetan Buddhism. It included one of the main branches of Indian Abhidharma that was instrument ...

Including:

• Buddhism in India - Characteristics
• Buddhism in India - Nikaya
• Buddhism in India - Mahayana
• Buddhism in India - Vajrayana
• Buddhism in India - History
• Buddhism in India - Modern Revival

Read more here: » Buddhism in India: Encyclopedia - Buddhism in India

Hinayana (Sanskrit: "inferior vehicle"; Chinese: 小乘 Xiǎoshèng; Japanese: Shōjō; Vietnamese: Tiểu thừa) is a term coined by the Mahayana, which appeared publicly around the 1st century CE. There are differing views on the use and meaning of the term, both among scholars and within Buddhism. The meaning of 'vehicle' here is probably best understood as a 'movement', rather than some sort of school or tradition. Hinayana - In brief. Hinayana is used as a name to refer variously ...

Including:

• Hinayana - In brief
• Hinayana - Three types of Buddha
• Hinayana - Origins of Hinayana: Vehicles and Paths
• Hinayana - Hinayana as a pejorative
• Hinayana - Hinayana and Theravada
• Hinayana - Etymology
• Hinayana - Bibliography

Read more here: » Hinayana: Encyclopedia - Hinayana

The Aṭṭhakavagga and the Pārāyanavagga are two small collections of suttas within the Pāli Canon of Theravada Buddhism. They are considered by some modern scholars to be among the earliest existing Buddhist literature. We do not have a great deal of information about the earliest phases of Buddhist thought, the form of the religion predating its later codification in the established canons and practices of ...

Including:

• Atthakavagga and Parayanavagga - Notes

Read more here: » Atthakavagga and Parayanavagga: Encyclopedia - Atthakavagga and Parayanavagga

Dignāga (5th century AD), was an Indian scholar and one of the Buddhist founders of Indian philosophical logic. He was born into a Brahmin family in Simhavakta near Kanchi (Kanchipuram), and very little is known of his early years, except that he took as his spiritual preceptor Nagadatta of the Vatsiputriya school. This branch of Buddhist thought defended the view that there exists a kind of real personality independe ...

Including:

• Dignaga - External references

Read more here: » Dignaga: Encyclopedia - Dignaga

There are many divisions and subdivisions of the schools of Buddhism. An extensive list of historical schools is given below according to lineage. Surviving schools can be roughly grouped under the categories of Theravāda, Mahāyāna, and Vajrayāna. Theravāda and Mahāyāna share common methods as sutric schools, while Vajrayāna can be seen as a tantric school. Schools of Buddhism - Nikaya schools. See also: early Buddhist schools The initial split between Sthaviravāda and Mahāsaṃghika ...

Including:

• Schools of Buddhism - Nikaya schools
• Schools of Buddhism - Theravada schools
• Schools of Buddhism - Mahāyāna schools
• Schools of Buddhism - Tantric schools

Read more here: » Schools of Buddhism: Encyclopedia - Schools of Buddhism

The Dharmaguptaka are one of the eighteen schools of early Buddhism. It had a prominent role in early Central Asian and Chinese Buddhism, and its monastic rules are still in effect in some East Asian countries to this day. The Dharmaguptaka doctrine appears to have been characterized by an understanding of the Buddha as separate in essence, and superior to, the monastic community, in opposition to the belief of other schools. The Gandharan Buddhist texts, the earliest Buddhist texts ever discovered, are apparently dedica ...

Including:

• Dharmaguptaka - References
• Dharmaguptaka - External links

Read more here: » Dharmaguptaka: Encyclopedia - Dharmaguptaka

The history of Buddhism in Japan can be roughly divided into three periods, namely the Nara period (up to 784), the Heian period (794-1185) and the post-Kamakura period (1185 onwards). Each period saw the introduction of new doctrines and upheavals in existing schools. Buddhism in Japan - Early Chinese accounts. In 467 CE, according to the Chinese historic treatise Liang Shu, five monks from Gandhara traveled to the country of Fusang (Chinese: 扶桑, Jp: Fusō: "The country of the extreme East" beyo ...

Including:

• Buddhism in Japan - Early Chinese accounts
• Buddhism in Japan - Nara Period
• Buddhism in Japan - Ritsu
• Buddhism in Japan - Jojitsu
• Buddhism in Japan - Kusha
• Buddhism in Japan - Sanron
• Buddhism in Japan - Hosso
• Buddhism in Japan - Kegon
• Buddhism in Japan - Heian Period
• Buddhism in Japan - Tendai
• Buddhism in Japan - Shingon
• Buddhism in Japan - Kamakura to Modern Period
• Buddhism in Japan - Amidist Schools
• Buddhism in Japan - Zen Schools
• Buddhism in Japan - Nichiren Buddhism
• Buddhism in Japan - Timeline

Read more here: » Buddhism in Japan: Encyclopedia - Buddhism in Japan

Theravada (Pali; Sanskrit: Sthaviravada) is one of the eighteen (or twenty) Nikāya schools that formed early in the history of Buddhism. These developed in India during the century subsequent to the death of the Buddha. The name of the school means "Teachings of the Elders" which implies that this was the most conservative school of Buddhism, a school that has attempted to conserve the original teachings of the Buddha. Adherents trace their lineage back to the Sthaviras (Pali: Theras; "Elders") of the First Buddhist Council when 500 arahants, including Mahakasyapa chose a position of orthodoxy to keep all the ...

Including:

• Theravada - History
• Theravada - Philosophy
• Theravada - Praxis
• Theravada - Lay and Monastic Life
• Theravada - Meditation
• Theravada - Levels of Attainment
• Theravada - Festivals and customs
• Theravada - Temporary Ordination
• Theravada - Buddhist orders within Theravada
• Theravada - Criticisms

Read more here: » Theravada: Encyclopedia - Theravada

Dōgen Zenji (道元禅師; January 19, 1200 - September 22, 1253) was a Japanese Zen Buddhist teacher and founder of the Soto school of Zen in Japan. He was a leading religious figure and important philosopher. "Zenji" is a title meaning zen master, and the name Dogen means roughly "Source of the Way." Dogen came from a noble family and he quickly learned the meaning of the word "mujo" (impermanence). His parents died when he was still young, and it is said that this early glimpse of impermanence inspired him to become a monk. ...

Read more here: » Dogen: Encyclopedia - Dogen

Brad Warner is a Zen Buddhist priest, ordained in the Soto school by Gudo Wafu Nishijima. He began practicing Zen under Ohio-based teacher Tim McCarthy in the early 1980s while also playing bass guitar for the hardcore punk band 0DFx (a.k.a. Zero Defex), and by the time he moved to Tokyo in 1994 to work for Tsuburaya Productions he had released five albums on the Midnight Records label as "Dimentia 13". He views his Zen practice as a natural extension of his earlier experiences with the punk rock movement, and wrote about this ...

Read more here: » Brad Warner: Encyclopedia - Brad Warner

Bhikkhu Bodhi is an American Buddhist monk from New York City. Born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1944, he obtained a BA in philosophy from Brooklyn College (1966) and a PhD in philosophy from Claremont Graduate School (1972). Drawn to Buddhism in his early 20s, after completing his university studies he traveled to Sri Lanka, where he received novice ordination in 1972 and full ordination in 1973, both under the late Ven. Ananda Maitreya, ...

Read more here: » Bhikkhu Bodhi: Encyclopedia - Bhikkhu Bodhi