Buddhism in the West

In this lesson, we will look at how Buddhism came to Europe and other Western countries. Is the Buddhism that is practiced in the West the same as Asian Buddhism?

Buddhism in the West

In this lesson, we will look at how Buddhism came to Europe and other Western countries. Is the Buddhism that is practiced in the West the same as Asian Buddhism?

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Students own personal experiences of Buddhism.
  2. Elements of studies so far within modern England.
  3. How eastern ideas came to the west from the Theosophical society of Madame Blavatsky in the 19th Century.
  4. Buddhist traditions in the west (such as mindfulness).

Equipment

You will need two different coloured pens: black or blue and another coloured pen, such as green or red.

Licence

This content is made available by Oak National Academy Limited and its partners and licensed under Oak’s terms & conditions (Collection 1), except where otherwise stated.

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7 Questions

Q1.
What does Vajrayana mean?
Correct answer: Diamond Vehicle
Greater Vehicle
Lesser Vehicle
Q2.
How many followers of Vajrayana Buddhism are there?
150 million
Correct answer: 18.2 million
350 million
Q3.
Which Hindu religion has greatly influenced Vajrayana?
Correct answer: Tantra
Theravada
Vedas
Q4.
Do Vajrayana Buddhists pray to gods?
No
Correct answer: Yes
Q5.
What quality does Vajrayana emphaise?
Correct answer: Compassion
Desire
Honesty
Q6.
What is the goal of Vajrayana Buddhism?
Correct answer: To become a Bodhisattva
To Become a God
To become an Arhat
Q7.
What is the title of the Tibetan Book of the Dead?
Correct answer: Bardo Thodol
Mahayana Sutras
Tripitaka

6 Questions

Q1.
Alexander the Great invaded parts of India
False
Correct answer: True
Q2.
Some ancient Greeks helped spread Dhamma
False
Correct answer: True
Q3.
Which group of Christians helped translate Buddhist texts?
Catholics
Correct answer: Jesuits
Protestants
Q4.
What did Max Muller do?
Helped covert Germans to Buddhism
Started a new type of Buddhism
Correct answer: Translated many Buddhist and Hindu texts into German
Q5.
Which period saw a rise in Western masters of Buddhism?
1000 BCE
Correct answer: 1960s
2000
Q6.
Which of these are well known teachers in the West?
Alan Watts
Correct answer: All of the above
Dalai Lama
DT Suzuki
Thich Nhat Hanh

Lesson appears in

UnitReligious education / Buddhism: practices

Religious education