Content-Type: text/html

# Buddhism

HomePage | RecentChanges | Preferences
You can edit this page right now! It's a free, community project

The religion based on the teachings of the Buddha.

According to [statistics from adherents.com], estimates of the number of Buddhists vary between 230 and 500 million, with most around 350 million.

There are two main branches of Buddhism: Theravada? and Mahayana?. Theravada is most common in Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, and Indochina. Mahayana is found in Tibet?, China and Japan. Sometimes Tantric Buddhism or Vajrayana? is listed as a third branch of Buddhism. Theravada is sometimes called Hinaya?, though that name is considered pejorative.

Different branches of Buddhism have different scriptures. Mahayana Buddhism has a large number of scriptures, called suttra?s: different Mahayana sects use different texts. Theravadins have a canon of writings called the Tripitaka (or in Pali? Tipitaka), for 'three baskets', after its three sections: the Vinaya Pitaka, containing disciplinary rules for monks? and nuns?; the Sutta Pitaka, containing discources of the Buddha; and the Abhidhamma Pitaka, containing a philosophical systematization of the Buddha's teaching. The Tipitaka is written in the Pali language.

The foundation of the Buddha's teaching is his Four Noble Truths, and Noble Eightfold Path.

The Buddha's Four Noble Truths

     1. All of life involves suffering.
     2. This suffering is caused by attachment.
     3. There is a way out of suffering.
     4. The way out of suffering is to follow the Eightfold Path.

The Eightfold Path

     1. Right Understanding
     2. Right Thought
     3. Right Speech
     4. Right Action
     5. Right Livelihood
     6. Right Effort
     7. Right Mindfulness
     8. Right Concentration

See also: Nirvana -- Dalai Lama -- [Attachment in Buddhism]?

Notable online resources include:

- [Google directory for Buddhism]
- [About.com entry for Buddhism]
- [Pali Canon]

HomePage | RecentChanges | Preferences
You can edit this page right now! It's a free, community project
Edit text of this page | View other revisions
Last edited August 1, 2001 12:29 pm (diff)
Search: