Cultural Anthropology – Buddhism Buddhism is a single religion divided into a number of traditions. These traditions share a set of common core beliefs and principles. To break it down easily, I will focus on some of the main beliefs, including the origins of man and the world, death, how to live and treat others, heaven and hell, and things against which Buddhism preaches. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”?Get an original essay Concerning the origin of the world, Buddhism believes that the beginning of this world cannot be mentally grasped in our minds. This therefore fits with Bertrand Russell's theory that "there is no reason to suppose that the world had a beginning". The idea that things must have a beginning is actually due to the poverty of our thoughts. Buddhists believe that the world, sun and stars were not created by a higher being or Buddha or that the world was created at a certain time, but rather they believe that the world was created millions of times per second and will continue to do so. In Buddhism, human life is highly valued and its concept of origin is linked to the origin of the world. Humans are believed to have originated at the beginning of the current kalpa period and were deva-like beings reborn from the deva realm. A deva refers to a type of non-human being who shares divine characteristics, such as being more powerful and able to live longer. It is believed that humans then evolved into beings that glowed in their own light and traveled through the air without the need for food. Over time, humans began to acquire a taste for physical foods and became heavier and lost their ability to glow, they then acquired differences in their appearance and divided into two different sexes. In Buddhism, death is simply part of a recurring cycle. One of the most fundamental beliefs in Buddhism is called reincarnation, the concept that people are reborn after they die. An individual is said to repeat the cycle several times; this cycle includes birth, life, death and rebirth. However, it is also stated that there is a difference between rebirth and reincarnation. In reincarnation, the individual returns repeatedly whereas, as in rebirth, the individual may never return to Earth as the same being. After going through repeated cycles, a person loses attachment to desires within himself and attains Nirvana. It is a state of liberation from suffering. The Buddhist way of life is described as a daily life marked by simplicity, peace, wisdom and gratitude. Buddhists pride themselves on being self-satisfied and peaceful, and this is done through faith, devotion, and practice. Through daily practice, the lifestyle will take care of itself. To live a good life according to Buddhism is to dedicate oneself to being more humble and more compassionate. Furthermore, Buddhism also states that everyone should live united and in harmony with each other. To achieve the highest level of enlightenment, one must literally care about the well-being of others more than one's own. This doesn't just apply to your family or loved ones, you need to share this compassion with everyone around you, even people you may consider "enemies." According to Buddhist belief, hell is just another realm among 30 other planes or states of existence. A.