Describe the basic beliefs of Buddhism. What will be an ideal ...

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Describe the basic beliefs of Buddhism.
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Define ethnic pluralism, and contrast it with assimilation.
 
  What will be an ideal response?

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Answer to Question 1

Buddhism first emerged in India some 2,500 years ago. Buddhism's founder Siddhartha Gautama was born about 563 B.C.E. into the privileged class. He had obtained Enlightenmentan awakening to the true nature of reality. Siddhartha was referred to as Buddha. Theravadin Buddhism, which focuses on the life of the Buddha and seeks to follow his teachings, gained its strongest toehold in Southeast Asia. Mahayana Buddhism is centered in Japan, China, and Korea and primarily focuses on meditation and the Four Noble Truths: (1) life is dukkhaphysical and mental suffering, pain, or anguish that pervades all human existence (2) the cause of life's suffering is rooted in tanhagrasping, craving, and coveting (3) one can overcome tanha and be released into Ultimate Freedom in Perfect Existence (nirvana); and (4) overcoming desire can be accomplished through the Eightfold Path to Nirvana. This path is a way of living that avoids extremes of indulgence and suggests that a person can live in the world but not be worldly.

The path's eight steps are right view (proper belief), right intent (renouncing attachment to the world), right speech (not lying, slandering, or using abusive talk), right action (avoiding sexual indulgence), right livelihood (avoiding occupations that do not enhance spiritual advancement), right effort (preventing potential evil from arising), right mindfulness, and right concentration (overcoming sensuous appetites and evil desires). The third major branch of Buddhism, Vajrayana, incorporates the first two branches along with some aspects of Hinduism it emerged in Tibet in the seventh century. Like Hinduism, the teachings of this type of Buddhism and specifically those of the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan Buddhist leaderemphasize the doctrine of ahimsa, or nonharmfulness, and discourage violence and warfare. Today, Buddhism is one of the fastest-growing Eastern religions in the United States. Zen and Tibetan Buddhism are extremely popular forms.

Answer to Question 2

Instead of complete assimilation, many groups share elements of the mainstream

culture while remaining culturally distinct from both the dominant group and other social

and ethnic groups. Ethnic pluralism is the coexistence of a variety of distinct racial and

ethnic groups within one society. Equalitarian pluralism or accommodation is a situation

in which ethnic groups coexist in equality with one another. Switzerland has been

described as a model. Inequalitarian pluralism or segregation exists when specific

groups are set apart from the dominant group and have unequal access to power and

privilege. Segregation is the spatial and social separation of categories of people by

race, ethnicity, class, gender, and/or religion.

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TYSM

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