Exploring Buddism

Siddhartha Gautama, popularly referred to as "the Buddha," established Buddhism about 2,500 years ago in India. Scholars rank Buddhism as one of the major world religions, with an estimated 500 million to one billion followers. Some academics characterize Buddhism as a philosophy or a moral code rather than an organized religion because it is a non-theistic faith with no god or entity to worship. The idea of suffering and its causes is central to many Buddhist doctrines and practices. Though it has historically been more common in East and Southeast Asia, Buddhism is becoming more and more popular in the West. The goal of Buddhism is to reach enlightenment, which is a condition of wisdom and inner serenity. Nirvana is the state attained by believers when they attain this spiritual level. Morality, meditation, and wisdom are the means by which one attains enlightenment. Buddhism promotes self-denial as well as refraining from self-indulgence. The Four Noble Truths, which are the core teachings of Buddhism, are crucial to comprehending the faith. Karma, or the law of cause and effect, and reincarnation, or the never-ending cycle of rebirth, are concepts that Buddhists accept. The lotus flower, the eight-spoke dharma wheel, the Bodhi tree, and the swastika, an ancient symbol whose name means "well-being" or "good fortune" in Sanskrit, are just a few of the pictures that have developed to symbolize Buddhism. Buddhists have the option of worshiping in temples or at home and Bhikkhus, or Buddhist monks, adhere to a rigorous rule of behaviour that includes celibacy. More information about Buddism can be found in the videos below.