Animism Of Buddhism

Religion is considered an important aspect to many cultures because it can provide peace of mind, unity within cultures and different views on life and death. Buddhism is derived from the word Buddha, which means awakened, wise or learned, which was one of the many characteristics Siddhartha Gautama, the founder behind the theory of Buddhism, created and used. Buddhism was a key part in Gautama’s life, his ultimate goal to seek spiritual enlightenment, which is hard today to trace any relations of Buddhism. Personally one of the most unique features of Buddhism is the Dharma. The Dharma is the considered to be important teachings of the Buddha, that his closest followers practiced. The ultimate goal of his followers was to reach a state of
Animism is a name that is directed towards a complex of primitive beliefs that imputes a soul or spirit to all things both animate or inanimate. It is derived from Latin anima which is breath, spirit and life. The idea of Animism was derived from one of the earliest anthropological accounts of the origin of religion. Tylor’s theory, created by Edward B. Tylor in 1866, states that the first religious thought that primitive humans ever had was from their journey in their dreams. Savages believe that within themselves some part is conscious and physical in which they can travel long distances instantly and even survive after death. From a simple experience of traveling and seeing others in dreams, the basic forms of the religion were created. In the mid to late 1800’s, Herbert Spencer and James G. Frazer worked on an extensive work called The Golden Bough. This work was influential in the beginning of the 20th century which contributed to Tylor’s theory. By adding to Tylor’s theory, they discussed that in a variety of myths, humans and animals could keep their souls/spirits somewhere other than their own body. It was noted that Tylor, Frazer, and others had only merely tied ethnographies, traveler's tales, and missionaries' accounts, together, taking elements from each to prove a point about humanity as a whole. What they missed was they didn’t bother to understand particular people in detail. Even if animism no longer serves as a general explanation for the origins of human religion, it is useful as a descriptor of certain religious modes of thought and conduct within anthropology. This religion is very unique and interesting to learn about because it not considered to be widely used in many cultures. I found that Shamans were an interesting contribution to this religion because they are regarded as having access to, and influence in, the world of benevolent and malevolent spirits, who