Buddhism also known Dharmavinaya (transl. "doctrines and disciplines"), is an as Buddha Dharma, and Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in the eastern Gangetic plain as a s'raman.a-movement in the 5th century BCE, and gradually spread throughout much of Asia via the Silk Road. It is the world's fourth-largest religion, with over 520 million followers (Buddhists) who comprise seven percent of the global population. The Buddha's central teachings emphasize the aim of attaining liberation from dukkha (often translated as "suffering" or "unease", the source of which is said to be attachment or clinging. He endorsed the Middle Way, a path of development that avoids both extreme asceticism and hedonism. A summary of this path is expressed in the Noble Eightfold Path, a cultivation of the mind which is said to lead to awakening and full liberation through observance of Buddhist ethics and meditation. Other widely observed practices include: monasticism; "taking refuge" in the Three Jewels: the Buddha, the dharma, and the san.gha; and the cultivation of perfections (pa-ramita-). Buddhist schools vary in their interpretation of the paths to liberation (ma-rga) as well as the relative importance and "canonicity" assigned to various Buddhist texts, and their specific teachings and practices. Two major extant branches of Buddhism are generally recognized by scholars: Therava-da (lit. 'School of the Elders') and Maha-ya-na (lit. 'Great Vehicle'). The Theravada tradition emphasizes the attainment of nirva-n.a (lit. 'extinguishing') as a means of transcending the individual self and ending the cycle of death and rebirth (sam.sa-ra), while the Mahayana tradition emphasizes the Bodhisattva-ideal, in which one works for the liberation of all beings. The Buddhist canon is vast, with many different textual collections in different languages (such as Sanskrit, Pali, Tibetan, and Chinese). The Therava-da branch has a widespread following in Sri Lanka as well as in Southeast Asia, namely Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia. The Maha-ya-na branch-which includes the traditions of Zen, Pure Land, Nichiren, Tiantai, Tendai, and Shingon-is predominantly practised in Nepal, Bhutan, China, Malaysia, Vietnam, Taiwan, Korea, and Japan. Additionally, Vajraya-na (lit. 'Indestructible Vehicle'), a body of teachings attributed to Indian adepts, may be viewed as a separate branch or tradition within Maha-ya-na. Tibetan Buddhism, which preserves the Vajraya-na teachings of eighth-century India, is practised in the Himalayan states as well as in Mongolia and Russian Kalmykia. Historically, until the early 2nd millennium, Buddhism was widely practiced in the Indian subcontinent; it also had a foothold to some extent elsewhere in Asia, namely Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan.
Buddhism also known as Dharmavinaya (transl. "doctrines and disciplines"), is an Buddha Dharma, and Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in the eastern Gangetic plain as a s'raman.a-movement in the 5th century BCE, and gradually spread throughout much of Asia via the Silk Road. It is the world's fourth-largest religion, with over 520 million followers (Buddhists) who comprise seven percent of the global population. The Buddha's central teachings emphasize the aim of attaining liberation from dukkha (often translated as "suffering" or "unease", the source of which is said to be attachment or clinging. He endorsed the Middle Way, a path of development that avoids both extreme asceticism and hedonism. A summary of this path is expressed in the Noble Eightfold Path, a cultivation of the mind which is said to lead to awakening and full liberation through observance of Buddhist ethics and meditation. Other widely observed practices include: monasticism; "taking refuge" in the Three Jewels: the Buddha, the dharma, and the san.gha; and the cultivation of perfections (pa-ramita-). Buddhist schools vary in their interpretation of the paths to liberation (ma-rga) as well as the relative importance and "canonicity" assigned to various Buddhist texts, and their specific teachings and practices. Two major extant branches of Buddhism are generally recognized by scholars: Therava-da (lit. 'School of the Elders') and Maha-ya-na (lit. 'Great Vehicle'). The Theravada tradition emphasizes the attainment of nirva-n.a (lit. 'extinguishing') as a means of transcending the individual self and ending the cycle tradition emphasizes the Bodhisattva-ideal, in which one of death and rebirth (sam.sa-ra), while the Mahayana works for the liberation of all beings. The Buddhist canon is vast, with many different textual collections in different languages (such as Sanskrit, Pali, Tibetan, and Chinese). The Therava-da branch has a widespread following in Sri Lanka as well as in Southeast Asia, namely Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia. The Maha-ya-na branch which includes the traditions of Zen, Pure Land, Nichiren, Tiantai, Tendai, and Shingon-is predominantly practised in Nepal, Bhutan, China, Malaysia, Vietnam, Taiwan, Korea, and Japan. Additionally, Vajraya-na (lit. 'Indestructible Vehicle'), a body of teachings attributed to Indian adepts, may be viewed as a separate branch or tradition within Maha-ya-na. Tibetan Buddhism, which preserves the Vajraya-na teachings of eighth-century India, is practised in the Himalayan states as well as in Mongolia and Russian Kalmykia. Historically, until the early 2nd millennium, Buddhism was widely practiced in the Indian subcontinent; it also had a foothold to some extent elsewhere in Asia, namely Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. Details of the Buddha's life are mentioned in many Early Buddhist Texts but are inconsistent. His social background and life details are difficult to prove, and the precise dates are uncertain, although the 5th century BCE seems to be the best estimate. Early texts have the Buddha's family name as "Gautama" (Pali: Gotama), while some texts give Siddhartha as his surname. He was born in Lumbini, present-day Nepal and grew up in Kapilavastu, a town in the Ganges Plain, near the modern Nepal-India border, and he spent his life in what is now modern Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Some hagiographic legends state that his father was a king named Suddhodana, his mother was Queen Maya.
Art (294)
Biography (232)
Buddha (1972)
Children (97)
Deities (47)
Healing (35)
Hinduism (56)
History (549)
Language & Literature (468)
Mahayana (413)
Mythology (91)
Philosophy (465)
Sacred Sites (122)
Tantric Buddhism (89)
Send as free online greeting card
Email a Friend
Visual Search
Manage Wishlist