Founded: Buddhism was founded in the sixth century BCE by Siddhartha Gautama. Siddhartha was a prince born in Lumbini near the border of India and Nepal. His dissatifaction with the nature of suffering and the answers of existing religion led him in a quest which eventually brought him to enlightenment, and thus the title, the Buddha.
Adherents: Originally, Buddhism was fairly widespread across Asia. Buddhism has ranged from western outposts in present day Pakistan and Turkestan east to the islands of Japan; north from Siberia and south to Sri Lanka and the islands of Indonesia. Buddhism has lost ground as other religions have invaded in succession. Although Buddhism began as a reform of Vedic Hinduism in the land of it's birth, it is hardly known in India today. Buddhist ruins now stand in Bali where Muslim traders brought Islam.
Today, however, the several varieties of Buddism are found in Ceylon, Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet, Southeast Asia, China, Mongolia, Korea, and Japan. Because of the non-exclusive nature of Buddhism, it is often practiced with other eastern non-exclusive religions. Although a universalizing religion, ethnic flavors are found in some of the branches and sects within Buddhism. Recent exposure to the Dalai Lama and Tibetan Buddhism has acquainted Western society with just one of these branches.
Distribution: The distribution listed for Buddists is given as follows from Markham, pp. 356-357:
| Area | Adherents | Population Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Africa | 21,000 | 0.0% |
| Asia | 313,114,000 | 9.7% |
| Europe | 272,000 | 0.05% |
| Latin America | 541,000 | 0.1% |
| Northern America | 558,000 | 0.2% |
| Oceania | 26,000 | 0.1% |
| Eurasia | 407,000 | 0.1% |
| World | 314,939,000 | 5.7% |
Major Teachings: Buddhism is primarily a spiritual philosophy and system of ethics. It places little or no emphasis on deities, teaching that the goal of the faithful is to achieve nirvana, a blissful state of release from the bonds of the self, the world, and samsara, the endless round of birth, death, and rebirth in successive lives. Spiritual perfection is achieved through the practice of humility, generosity, mercy, abstention from violence, and above all, self-control.
Scriptures and Significant Writings: The major writings of Buddhism are a collection of greater and lesser writings, known as the Tripitaka. They are a collection of teachings, monastic rules, and philosophy of the Buddha. Many of these teachings are known as sutras.
Symbols: One of the most important symbols of Buddhism is the
wheel of life, which depicts the cycle of birth and death, shown on
this website's button. The eight spokes represent the Eightfold Path.
The lotus blossom is strongly associated with the Buddha, symbolic of the
enlightenment of the soul.
Major Divisions: The two major divisions of Buddhism are Therevada (or Hinayana) and Mahayana. Therevada Buddhism is the more traditional form, characterized by the strict adherence to the major teachings mentioned above. Mahayana Buddhism is characterized by the addition of other teachings. Some forms may worship a pantheon of divine Buddhas and future Buddhas. Some also have elaborate hierarchies of demons. Several varieties promise the worshipper a real paradise rather than a perfected spiritual state. Tibetan Buddhism is an example of Mahayana Buddism, although it may be classed as a third division of Buddhism. The Japanese sects, such as Zen, have become well known in the West. Zen seeks truth through meditation and intuition.
Major Holy Days: include Parinirvana, Puja (Buddha's birthday), Wesak/Viasakha, Padmasambhava Day, Dhamma Day, and Bodhi Day.
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From The Wise Man
Few cross over the river.
But the wise person,
Free from desire,
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In Lamaism, found in Mongolia and the Himalayan region, ceremony and ritual are emphasized. They engage in dana, sila, chanting, worship, and pilgrimage. Lamaism also engages in searching out a young child at the death of an important teacher. The child is believed to be the successor to the deceased teacher.
Buddhism was introduced to the West through the efforts of the Theosophical Society, which founded at New York in 1875. Immigration to America of Asians also increased the development in the West. Most schools of Buddhism are now united in the Buddhist Church of America, which provides some influence on American culture. Philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer provided the first introduction to Buddhism in Europe who was followed by the writing of The Light of Asia by Edwin Arnold in 1879 (Eerdmans, p. 240).
Markham, Ian S., (Editor), A World Religions Reader. Cambridge, MA: Blackwell Publishers, 1996.
Mascaró, Juan (translator), The Dhammapada: The Path of Perfection. New York: Penguin Books, 1973.