Comparative Analysis: Buddhism in India and China Buddhism is the non-theistic religion and philosophical system founded in northeastern India in the 6th century by Gautama Siddhartha (the Buddha ). His followers seek to emulate his example of perfect morality, wisdom, and compassion culminating in a transformation of consciousness known as enlightenment. Buddhism teaches that greed, hatred and delusion separate the individual from the true perception of the nature of things, causing him to remain tied to the bhavachakra (Ch'en, 1989). The apparent substantiality of all objects including the self is an illusion; everything mundane is temporary and ultimately unsatisfying. The central beliefs of Buddhism are based on the Four Noble Truths of the Buddha, the last of which is the Eightfold Noble Path, through which one can achieve enlightenment and the annihilated individual self in Nirvana. Buddhism is not dogmatic, but over its long history it has developed into many schools (Mahayana, Theravada and Zen) (Ch'en, 1989). With more than 500 million followers in Sri Lanka, Nepal, Japan and elsewhere in the Far East, Buddhism is currently gaining followers in the West as well. The predominant forms however are Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism, the former of which is practiced in China while the latter is prevalent in India. Both of these forms are significantly different from each other and the following essay will attempt to compare and contrast Buddhism in India and China. Theravada Buddhism is the old conservative school, also called Hinayana by its detractors. Prevalent in India, Cambodia, Laos, Sri Lanka and Thailand, it emphasizes the ideal of the arhat – one who, as a monk, achieves enlightenment through his own efforts. In Theravada the Buddha is r...... in the center of the card...... he doesn't realize it. The purpose of meditation is to achieve awareness that our true nature is none other than Buddha nature. The above analysis therefore shows that numerous similarities and differences can be found in Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism. Both of these forms, however, have one thing in common: the transitory nature of human life, as we know it. While we may long in our hearts for eternity, the inescapable fact is that we are only temporary beings, and true spirituality begins with the recognition of this. References Ch'en, Kenneth KS. Buddhism: the light of Asia. Woodbury, New York: Barron's Educational Series, 1989. Conze, Edward. Buddhism: its essence and development. New York: Harper & Row, 1979. Scuhmann, Hans Wolfgang. Buddhism. Madras: Theosophical Publishing House, 1974. Rahula, Walpola. What the Buddha taught. New York: Grove Press, 1991.