BUDDHISM
ORIGINS AND EARLY HISTORY:Buddhism developed in India out of Hinduism. The founder of Buddhism was an India prince named Siddhartha Gautama. Born in 576 B.C. Siddhartha led a sheltered life as a child. Later, he was shocked to learn of the sufferings of the common people. At age 29, he left his wife, child and privileged life in the palace to wander the countryside. In search of the true meaning of life, Siddhartha traveled, studied and thought. After six years of study and being alone, he still found no answers. Suddenly, one day, while resting under a tree, the major ideas of Buddhism came to him. From that moment when he began teaching, Siddhartha became known as Buddha, or the “Enlightened One.” The religion that eventually developed from his teachings spread to China, Japan, and Southeast Asia.
MAJOR BELIEFS:Buddha taught that ordinary life is filled with sorrow, pain and suffering. This suffering is caused by our desire for material goods and success. We can put an end to our pain and suffering, and find happiness and peace by giving up our love of material things. This takes great discipline! Buddhism teaches that each person should follow an Eightfold Path consisting of right views, right intention, right speech, right action, right occupation, right effort, right concentration and right meditation, or deep thinking. By following this path a Buddhist believes it may be possible to escape the cycle of reincarnation, or continuous rebirth of the soul. The final reward for leading a proper life is that one will reach a state of blessed happiness and peace known as nirvana. It is only on reaching nirvana that people are freed from the endless cycle of being reborn.
HOLY BOOKS:Like many other religious leaders, Buddha did not write down his teachings. After his death, his followers brought together his key teachings into books called Sutras.
MAJOR PRACTICES:A good Buddhist must learn to give up the desire for material things, to act in a worthy manner, to speak truthfully, to respect all living things, and to think about life. While Buddhists follow the Hindu concept of reincarnation, Buddhists reject the caste system.
PLACES OF WORSHIP:Buddhist places of worship are known as temples and shrines. Some Buddhists retreat into monasteries, where they meditate and study Buddhist teachings.
MAIN DIVISIONS:There are many types of Buddhists. Each type emphasizes a different way of reaching nirvana. The Zen Buddhists of Japan, for example, are known for their rigid self-discipline.