Spread of Buddhism from the East to the West mmmBuddhism is becoming more wide spread in the west, specifically America as this philosophy on living transforms to fit an American ideal (see [6]). Throughout the history of Buddhism scholars observe that Buddhism is a very malleable religion [2,3,4,6]. Since the 6th B.C.E century, where Buddhism first found its roots in India, the dharma, or "teaching of the Buddha" was transmitted orally to Indian followers and as interest increased the teachings began to spread to Asia. After the Buddha reached enlightenment at the age of 80, the dharma had been well received by his disciples and the Buddha asked that they go and teach the world of the practice they had found [2,3] . Entering China through the Silk Road the teachings began to show Chinese followers a way of life different than the ones they were living. In the 1st century scholars explain that while the interest increased of this way of life, Buddhist monks formed the first Buddhist council and found it necessary to put the dharma into writing [2,3,5,6,]. The dharma, consisting of the original teachings of the Buddha describes the way enlightenment can be found. It includes fundamental teachings of the Buddha, specifically the first sermon where the Buddha set forth the the Dharmachakrapravrtana, know as the "turning of the wheel of law" [2,3,4,6], which set forth the Buddha’s “middle way.” The middle way encompassed the Four Noble Truths, the eightfold path, and the teaching of morality, concentration/wisdom, and compassion. [2,3,4,5]. By putting this teaching in writing, the first sect of Buddhism formed, Theravada, which in the words of Layman, is the sect that formed from the original disciples of the Buddha [2]. Theravada monks, having the teaching in its foundations began helping it spread to other parts of the Far East. After having arrived in China, it was clear that “the beauty of Buddhism is its flexibility” [6]. Buddhism is a way of life that can easily be adapted to any cultural or social conditions [1,2,4].
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