Buddhism
A widespread Asian religion or philosophy, founded by Siddartha Gautama in northeastern India in the 5th century BC.
Distinctions
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Summary
Buddhists follow the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, given the title the Buddha - "the enlightened, or awakened, one." The Buddha lived in northern India in the fifth and sixth centuries BCE. He spent many years trying to understand the cause of suffering and find the way to end it, before he reached enlightenment.
Buddhists believe that we are tied to the cycles of death and birth through desire and can be born again in many different forms. But they believe they can find a way to escape this cycle, to be finally released from reincarnation to reach nirvana. As the Buddha taught: "If you walk towards knowledge you leave these rebirths behind. You do not go on becoming."
The Buddha's teachings are a guide for all Buddhists, who try to perfect the qualities of wisdom, compassion and harmlessness. Eventually they can be "awakened" to obtain the highest peace and freedom, which is nirvana.
Symbol
The Buddha spoke of an Eightfold Path to enlightenment. This is traditionally represented as an eight-spoked wheel. The path is a guide to living life compassionately and non-violently.
Worldwide Numbers
There are over 250 million Buddhists worldwide. Most Buddhists live in Asia. More than 85% of the population of Myanmar (Burma) and Thailand and Cambodia are Buddhist, as are more than 70% in Laos and Japan. Buddhism is the state religion in Thailand and Bhutan.
Holy Places
Each Buddhist countnrty has its own pilgrimage sites. However, the sites in northern India associated with the Siddhartha Gotama's life are significant for almost all Buddhists.
Holy Writings
The teachings of the Buddha have been handed down in a collection of writings called the Tripitaka in the Theravada tradition. These and the writings of sages and scholars are included in the scriptures of the Mahayana tradition.
Key Links
Additional in-depth information here on Wikipedia.