Reference no: EM133202581 , Length: 1000 Words
Focus paper on The Dhammapada.
Read Eknath Easwaran's introduction to the book and the chapters of The Dhammapada that follow. Then, in essay format answer the following questions, taking care to use as many specific examples from the book as possible:
Who was the Buddha, and why did he leave his family to teach others his ideas?
Using specific examples, describe the essence of the Buddha's teachings. How did he believe people should behave? What role did the mind, meditation, dharma, and karma play in his teachings?
What might these teachings tell us about South Asian societies during this period?
Why do you think these ideals were so appealing to some in this society?
Thinking back on the Confucian ideals you read in The Analects, how does the model of behavior and living taught by the Buddha compare to the model taught by Confucius?