Buddhism, 8 Definition(s)

(Pronunciation: "BOO dizm") A religion or philosophy founded by an Indian prince in the fifth century B.C. in which followers seek to attain enlightenment, a state of complete spiritual freedom known as nirvana. In so doing, they escape the endless cycle of birth and death as well as the pain and suffering associated with life.

Buddhism is not one religion and philosophy but two. First there is the conservative Southern or Hinayana or Theravada branch, which places great emphasis on meditation, and sees the goal of existence as to escape from this world of suffering into eternal, quiescent Nirvana. Quite different to this is the more liberal and progressive Mahayana or Northern branch, which has a much broader religious and metaphysical development. The goal here is not to escape this world for nirvana, but rather, having achieved Enlightenment, one returns as a Bodhisattva to the world for the sake of other beings. The Buddhist system of self transformation through stilling the mind is among the most potent around. And I feel that as people let go of old superstitions and useless dogmas this will become more and more acknowledged. Not an old "fundamentalistic" Buddhism but a syncrestic non dogmatic Buddhism. Perhaps it may not be too absurd to suggest that just as Christianity was the religion (or meme) of the last two millenia, Buddhism looks like being the religion (or meme) of the next two.

someone who practices the Dharma; non orthodox form of Vedic or Aryan teaching founded by the Buddha or enlightened one

Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices considered by most to be a religion and is based on the teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as "The Buddha" (the Awakened One), who was born in what is today Nepal. He lived and taught in the northeastern region of the Indian subcontinent and most likely died around 400 BCE.

Buddhism is broadly recognized as being composed of two major branches:

• Theravada, which has a widespread following in Southeast Asia
• Mahayana (including Pure Land, Zen, Nichiren Buddhism, Shingon, Tibetan Buddhism and Tendai), found throughout East Asia. It should be noted that in some methods of classification, Vajrayana is considered a third branch.

Buddhism is a spiritual tradition that focuses on personal spiritual development and the attainment of a deep insight into the true nature of life. Buddhism teaches that all life is interconnected, so compassion is natural and important.

• Buddhism is 2,500 years old
• There are currently 376 million followers worldwide
• There are around 151, 816 Buddhists in Britain according to the 2001 census
• Buddhism arose as a result of Siddhartha Gautamas quest for Enlightenment in around the 6th Century BCE
• There is no belief in a personal God. It is not centred on the relationship between humanity and God
• Buddhists believe that nothing is fixed or permanent - change is always possible
• The two main Buddhist sects are Theravada Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism, but there are many more
• Buddhism is a very colourful faith with many festivals throughout the year
• Buddhists can worship both at home or at a temple

The path to Enlightenment is through the practice and development of morality, meditation and wisdom.

Founded: About 525 BC, reportedly near Benares, India. Founder: Gautama Siddhartha (ca. 562-480), the Buddha, who achieved enlightenment through intense meditation. Organization: The basic institution is the Sangha or monastic order through which the traditions are passed to each generation.

Monastic life tends to be democratic and anti authoritarian. Large lay organizations have developed in some sects. Philosophy: Buddhism defines reality in terms of cause and effect relations, thus accepting the doctrine common to Indian religions of Samara, or bondage to the repeating cycle of births and deaths according to ones physical and mental actions.

Buddhism is the name for a complex system of beliefs developed around the teachings of the Buddha. Though used by many religious groups in ancient India, the title Buddha (meaning “the Enlightened One”) became associated with the founder of Buddhism, Siddhartha Gautama, who lived between the 6th and the 4th centuries BC. There are now dozens of different schools of Buddhist…

Buddhism, like Christianity, is split up into innumerable sects, and these sects not infrequently cling to their sectarian tenets as being the main and most indispensable features of their religion.

Buddhism is monistic. It claims that mans soul dies not consist of two things, of an atman (self) and of a manas (mind or thoughts), but that there is one reality, our thoughts, our mind or manas, and this manas constitutes the soul.

The strength as well as the weakness of original Buddhism lies in its philosophical character, which enabled a thinker, but not the masses, to understand the dispensation of the moral law that pervades the world. As such, the original Buddhism has been called by Buddhists the little vessel of salvation, or Hinayana; for it is comparable to a small boat on which a man may cross the stream of worldliness, so as to reach the shore of Nirvana.