When asked to write essays on Buddhism, the topic is one of the most important segments. It defines the extent to which you will research and the reception your paper receives. It will also go forth to affect your performance.
Buddhism is such a wide religion and way of life that you have numerous topics to think about. You may talk about its structures, principles, interaction with other religions, origin, and future, among other aspects. However, your Buddhism essay will only capture the imagination of a reader based on the topic you choose.
Choosing a topic for your essay on Buddhism
It is up to you to pick any topic you feel is manageable for your Buddhism research. However, the topic must meet the following conditions to capture the attention and imagination of readers.
Interesting
Every reader wants to enjoy your paper. The first encounter with your paper must promise an interesting discussion. The Buddhism essay topics you choose must be interesting enough to invite readers to dig deeper into your paper. Identify a prospective or subject that would make your paper. interesting.
Such ideas come out of controversy. Identify a topic that raises a lot of storms whenever it comes up for discussion. You may also choose an obvious topic then give it a different perspective. If the topic is interesting, it gives a good impression. The reader or examiner knows from the beginning that he is handling a winning essay.
Fresh
The best Buddhism topics discuss fresh ideas. Numerous researchers have been studying religion for years. Some of the topics have been exhaustively studied. Unless you have a new idea or perspective to discuss, it is advisable to avoid the same old topics.
Generating new Buddhism ideas is a huge challenge for many students at different levels. Where can you find these ideas?
- Check news items to see the latest concerns about religion and our way of life. It could be new government regulations or a pronouncement by the leader. People could also be discussing an incident relating to religion. Such news items are good sources of fresh Buddhism topics for your paper.
- Read recommendations from the research works by other scholars. They recommend areas that are yet to be discussed. You will find the recommendations at the end of the research papers.
- Write on a subject you are passionate about. What fascinates you about Buddhism? People are ready to review your ideas.
A fresh idea is a promise to the reader that he will find new and interesting information. It provides the best incentive for a reader to peruse through your paper to the end.
Specific
The topic provides a boundary for research papers on Buddhism. The topic indicates how far you will go in your research, the books to cover, the data to collect, and the materials to include in your paper. A specific topic also generates legitimate expectations. The expectations can only be met if you set boundaries and stick to them in your paper.
Relevant
What are people looking for in Buddhism essays? Can they find it in your paper? This expectation will only be fulfilled if your discussion is relevant. A relevant topic covers the most current discourse and is reasonable for your area of study. Choose a relevant topic that makes your work interesting.
Here are the Best Buddhism Essay Topics to Write about
- Buddhism and Hinduism
- Misconceptions about Buddhism
- The four noble truths of Buddhism
- Death and dying in Buddhism
- The Oneida community
Interesting Topics for Essay on Buddhism
- Shinto and its relationship with Buddhism and China
- The relationship between Hinduism and Buddhism in India
- The things and ideas of Buddhism
- Anger management in Buddhism
- Early Buddhism and Mahayana
- Buddhism in Japan and China
Simple Topics for Your Buddhism Essay
- The idea of morality in Buddhism
- The essentials of Buddhism
- The rise and fall of Buddhism
- The health ideas of Buddhism
- The concepts of habits in Buddhism
Great Buddhism Essay Topics
- Dalai Lama and Buddhism
- Attributes and characteristics of Buddhism
- The history of Buddhism in China
- Women in Buddhism
- Salvation in Buddhism
Want to understand the essay writing process better? Check out some examples of well-written essays. Here is a sample essay on Buddhism for your inspiration.
Buddhism
Buddha’s Enlightenment and the Meaning of Suffering
The foundation of Buddhism began about 2,500 years ago, and it rests on a life of an Indian Prince and teacher called Siddhartha Gotama. He attained enlightenment at the age of 35 when he was seated under a large tree known as the Bodhi tree. Siddhartha was deeply absorbed in meditation and began to experience major spiritual breakthroughs by reflecting on his experience of life and penetrating its truth.
According to Buddha’s teachings, suffering comes in three primary forms. Firstly, there is the obvious suffering that is physical and mental. It is associated with activities such as illness, dying, birth and growing old. The second form of suffering that Buddha taught involved stress and the anxiety to hold on to things that are ever changing. The last form of suffering is the basic unsatisfactoriness of human beings subject to desires and cravings.
Mahayana Buddhism
Mahayana Buddhism originated from the Mahasanghikas which was a liberal branch of the Buddhist community that separated itself from the more conservative Buddhism some time before the 3rd Century BC before the reign of an Indian King called Ashoka. Mahayana Buddhism initially resembled that of Mahasanghikas in terms of doctrinal interpretation. However, Mahayana’s most significant innovation was the view of Buddha as a supernatural being who was in the form of a transformational body to be born as the historical Buddha. Mahayana Buddhism is less restrictive and much broader than the early Buddhism that was practiced. It is based on Mahayana tradition and Buddhist monastic community. The Mahayana Buddhism includes monks and laity who take the ideal path to enlightenment (bodhisattva). A Bodhisattva vow should be taken by the Mahayana Buddhists to attain complete enlightenment for the sake of all conscious beings. The Bodhisattva vow extends into the future life unlike Pratimoksa vow comes to an end at the time death.
Zen Practice in Japan
Zen is a school in the Mahayana Buddhism that was established in China. It developed as Chan during the Tang dynasty in China and from there it spread to Vietnam, Korea, and Japan when it became the Japanese Zen. After its arrival in Japan, the Zen Buddhism started to have an adamant influence on the development of culture in Japan. Eventually, it became part of the Japanese aesthetic foundation and spirituality. Many spiritual values and morals were taught and transmitted all over Japan. Koan was a story describing the interaction between a student and their Zen master. It accentuated majorly on the non-conceptional insights that the teachings of Buddha were pointing to. Koan was mostly used to test the student’s progress in the practices of Zen. According to Zen, anyone who is dedicated enough can be enlightened. It takes four progressive stages to attain full enlightenment.
Differences between Hinduism and Buddhism
There are very many differences between Hinduism and Buddhism. Firstly, Buddhism practices the three-fold pieces of training of wisdom, concentration and morality. On the other hand, Hinduism practices meditation, contemplation, yoga, communal worship and offerings in the temple. Another difference is that Buddhism does not believe in a god as a creator, while Hinduism believes in many gods but recognizes Atman as the creator. In Buddhism, one can attain enlightenment by letting go of desires and cravings of human wants, but in Hinduism one can reach enlightenment through the Path of Devotion, the Path of Knowledge and the Path of Good Deeds. Yoga is practiced in both Buddhism and Hinduism as a process of ceasing mental activities. Although yoga was developed in Hinduism, Buddhists practice it as a physical process. Buddhists follow the teachings of Buddha; however, Hinduism is devoted to various gods and goddesses.
