Buddhism (World Religions: A Whirlwind Tour)

The Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life offers a series of short classes this spring designed to teach participants about the origins, beliefs and practices of various faith traditions.

LD Russell, in the Department of Religious Studies, leads this weekly Monday program to teach the concepts, ideas and practices of several of the world's biggest religions.

In this fourth session, Russell gives an overview of Buddhism.

[rambosingh]

Hi, I'm from North-eastern part of India and I'm a Hindu. Since comment is disabled on Hinduism I'm leaving a comment here. I'd like to thank Sir Russell for his lecture, and would love to listen further on Hinduism which he could not finish on the video and about Hanuman. He has tried his best to give an overall idea about Hinduism. And I think he has given it in the most accurate way compared to other western scholars. Hinduism is very complex, and anybody can not grasp it just by reading the books. It needs experts (gurus) to conceive the real meaning. And that is why it is said it is not a religion, but Hindu is a way of life. What's beautifull about Hinduism is that it is open to everyone and give the room to followers to question about it, to not just accept what is being told to do and not to do. And correction : Hindu has multiple Gods, but they are demigods and Goddesses. We don't worship every demi Gods, although we offer Pujas on anniversaries, but it's not a compulsion. Gods mainly worshipped are : Vishnu, Radha Krishna, Shiva, Durga, Ganesh and some others. It's their choice. Vaihnavites consider Krishna as the Supreme God. Shivaites consider Shiva as the Supreme. FYI, Everyday is not a festival in India.

[GururajBN]

The big difference between the Indic Dharmasena and Abrahamic religions is summarised in the end - Buddha is not going to carry anyone along the path. He shows the path he walked. It is available to everyone. An Abrahamic prophet has to carry the burden of whosoever believes in him. Others go to Hell.

He is an exceptionally good teacher 👌🙏

[drvNYK]

He definitely didn't study religions for job.
He is totally into them.

[neosmith]

Siddhartha’s father was a king. Not just a lord. Those fortune tellers were hindu sage astrologers.

[AshrafEzzat]

Really Buddhism simplified. It is a profound analysis and yet in a witty and extremely captivating manner. Big shout from Alexandria, Egypt.

[sapnapathak.]

Sir you have so much knowledge.
Respect from India.

[snarasi]

I am a Hindu with an understanding of it but i loved his Hinduism lecture and Buddhism lecture i just wish he needs a series. I guess even though i like Buddhism i am a Hindu the same four principles apply actually this caused the term Hindu rate of growth for Indian economy. Buddha thought longing for a statue or words can contaminate a religion but without icons or symbols we never get reminded to remember the root cause.

[izzywilson]

I don't think I've ever fallen in love with a man in under an hour.

[kb.e]

beautiful and well interpreted story of the life of the buddha. Just missed one part. In which when the lady feeds rice and milk to siddhartha he realizes that going extreme is not the key to the answer. In which he gives an example of the guitar string, if too tight then it might snap and if too loose then it will not produce a good sound. So he comes to a conclusion that taking the middle path is the best solution and then he proceeds to his meditation under the bhodi tree...

[Adadada]

Enjoyed your lecture, what got my attention is going from the Baptist Seminar to Buddhism. Thanks for your honesty and sincerity and being a recovering Baptist I can relate.

[devashishbhatt]

Since Comment are disabled in video of Hinduism, i want this to say....
I am a Practicing Hinduism and...
*_Hinduism accept any kind of Criticism wheather they are tooo positive or tooo negative .... It also accept Question which have Criticism, Insults, Ignorance, etc.
Answer, Happiness, Joy, etc_*
And *_Encourage Freedom of speech and Expression, Non-Violance, Happiness in your own
So please *_allow everyone to express_* themselves in that video (video on Hinduism ) and Hindus can tolerate everything in that Comment section in almost every single case in both sides and that will be great....
And Thank you for the best lecture on Buddhism along with your own life story

[ashunegi]

Every human being have their own thoughts about the religion, respect u man

[joshuapowles]

Thank you for this teaching LD Russell. I love how you made it personal. These questions concern us all in one way or another.

[gayaniroshana]

Buddhism is a path of practice and spiritual development leading to Insight into the true nature of reality. Buddhist practices like meditation are means of changing yourself in order to develop the qualities of awareness, kindness, and wisdom. The experience developed within the Buddhist tradition over thousands of years has created an incomparable resource for all those who wish to follow a path — a path which ultimately culminates in Enlightenment or Buddhahood. An enlightened being sees the nature of reality absolutely clearly, just as it is, and lives fully and naturally in accordance with that vision. This is the goal of the Buddhist spiritual life, representing the end of suffering for anyone who attains it.

Because Buddhism does not include the idea of worshipping a creator god, some people do not see it as a religion in the normal, Western sense. The basic tenets of Buddhist teaching are straightforward and practical: nothing is fixed or permanent; actions have consequences; change is possible. So Buddhism addresses itself to all people irrespective of race, nationality, caste, sexuality, or gender. It teaches practical methods which enable people to realise and use its teachings in order to transform their experience, to be fully responsible for their TRUE RELIGION IS BUDDHISM

[Jr-bitc]

Great way of perceiving everything as it truely is. Even most Buddhist does not understand the true knowledge of Buddhism. Its not like reciting some verses and you will get Nirvana, rather by practicing and cultivating the path Buddha has shown us. You by yourselves have to go through that path.

[tanmayarya]

Never a god in hinduism, Buddhism and sikhism say to pray to them.

[TrustSuvas]

Since comments on his lecture on Hinduism have been disabled, I am conveying here my deeply felt appreciation of LD’s elucidation of Hinduism here. There should be a series of his lectures on Hinduism. It will hugely benefit the followers.

[SC-drwk]

17:50 U made me emotional sir, I used to do that same thing when I was in India, you made me realize that how much I am missing the poise of mind that that thing gave me.
Thank you for making me understand that sir.
May God bless u and u achieve nirvana.

[manavagrawal]

I love how present you are and how charismatic your speech and pace is.
You are a masterful public speaker and I'm very very impressed 🙏

[rajat_music]

I can say proudly toady that Gautama was a Hindu was the best Buddha of his century