Buddhism "One thing I teach: suffering and the end of suffering. It is just ill and the ceasing of ill that I proclaim." -- The Buddha

Origins Buddhism was founded by Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha) in approximately 520 BCE in Northeast India.

Origins - Siddhartha Gautama

Origins - Siddhartha Gautama Wanting to free his mind of daily concerns, Siddhartha began fasting and meditating. Eventually, he came to understand the answers to questions he had about human life.

Adherents Buddhism is the fourth largest world religion with approximately 360 million followers.

Adherents People who follow the religion of Buddhism are called Buddhists.

Views Buddhists do not believe that this world is created and ruled by a God. Buddha did not want his followers speculating about such matters as God, the nature of the universe, and the afterlife. Instead, Buddha urged his followers to focus instead on the Four Noble Truths by which they can free themselves from suffering.

The Four Noble Truths Suffering Exists.

Suffering arises from attachment to desires. The Four Noble Truths Suffering arises from attachment to desires.

Suffering ceases when attachment to desire ceases. The Four Noble Truths Suffering ceases when attachment to desire ceases.

Freedom from suffering is possible by practicing the Eightfold path. The Four Noble Truths Freedom from suffering is possible by practicing the Eightfold path.

The Eightfold Path - Morality Right Speech – Speaking in a non hurtful, not exaggerated, truthful way. Avoid lies and gossip.

The Eightfold Path - Morality Right Action – Avoiding harmful actions. Don’t steal from or harm others.

The Eightfold Path - Morality Right Livelihood - Not harming in any way oneself or others; directly or indirectly. Reject work that hurts others.

The Eightfold Path - Meditation Right Effort – Making constant effort to improve oneself. Prevent evil and do good.

The Eightfold Path - Meditation Right Mindfulness - Mental ability to see things for what they are with clear consciousness. Control your feelings and thoughts.

The Eightfold Path - Meditation Right Contemplation - Being aware of the present reality within oneself, without any craving or aversion. Practice meditation.

The Eightfold Path - Wisdom Right View - Understanding reality as it is, not just as it appears to be. Incline towards goodness and kindness.

The Eightfold Path - Wisdom Right Thought - Change in the pattern of thinking. Believe in the nature of existence as suffering and in the Four Noble Truths.

Views However, disbelief in a creator God does not mean that Buddhism is atheistic. While Theravada Buddhists are atheistic; Mahayana Buddhists are more polytheistic.

Views In Mahayana Buddhism, the universe is populated with celestial buddhas, bodhisattvas, and deities that assist and inspire Buddhists.

Views With regard to the universe, Buddha taught nothing is permanent. The Buddha said of death: Life is a journey. Death is a return to earth. The universe is like an inn. The passing years are like dust. Regard this phantom world As a star at dawn, a bubble in a stream, A flash of lightning in a summer cloud, A flickering lamp - a phantom - and a dream.

Life’s Purpose In Buddhism, the purpose of life is to end suffering. The Buddha taught that humans suffer because we continually strive after things that do not give lasting happiness. During life, humans should also strive to gain enlightenment and release from cycle of rebirth, or at least attain a better rebirth by gaining merit.

Afterlife Buddhists believe people are reincarnated when they die. This is different than reincarnation in Hinduism because Buddhists do not believe the soul passes on to the next body.

Afterlife Buddha compared reincarnation to lighting successive candles using the flame of the preceding candle. Although each flame is causally connected to the one that came before it, is it not the same flame. Thus, in Buddhism, reincarnation is usually referred to as "transmigration."

General Practices Meditation Mantras (sacred sounds) devotion to deities (in some sects) mandalas (Tibetan)

Holy Text(s) Tripitaka (Pali Canon) - is the earliest collection of Buddhist teachings Mahayana sutras (like the Lotus Sutra) Tibetan Book of the Dead - describes in detail the stages of death from the Tibetan point of view

Buddhism Internet Link - Summary Essentials of Buddhism - core concepts