In a paper consisting of five pages Buddhism is detailed as are Taoism, Falun Gong, Shintoism, and Confucianism. Nine sources are cited in the bibliography.
Name of Research Paper File: LM1_TLCBuddh.rtf
Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
in any one entity; rather, they believe there is no divine creator, that the universe is self-existent without benefit of beginning or end. Their notion is of a cyclical
recurrence of change that is demonstrated through continual destruction and resurgence. Buddhism decrees outright respect for every living being no matter whether that being is human, animal or otherwise.
According to the basic points unifying the Theravada and the Mahayana, all life has meaning and worth, and is deserving of the utmost
respect. Buddhists abhor violence and cruelty, particularly when it is inflicted upon the innocent. Even seemingly unworthy creatures are given the same respect as other entities of life
that are considered far more deserving. There are four steadfast Buddhist disciplines set forth for the mind and heart: 1. Kindness towards all beings - metta 2.
Compassion towards those who are suffering - karuna 3. Sympathetic Joy towards others - mudita 4. Equanimity toward friend and foe - upekkha (Anonymous, no date).
Obtaining merit toward ones afterlife is earned and evaluated by the charitable acts one demonstrates in this life, such as by feeding monks, building and maintaining
temples, releasing birds and fish, helping the needy and other acts of selflessness (Barber, 1998, p. clapr98.htm). Karma, the "physical, verbal, and cognitive action of past lives" (Silva, 1995,
p. 31), is a measure of ones goodness or badness. By aspiring to be the most charitable and benevolent person possible, ones Karma will return beneficially; however, a person
who is malevolent of mind and spirit will receive only negative retribution in exchange (Silva, 1995). Buddhists believe that karmic actions result in