Buddhism

Founded in India 2,500 years ago, Buddhism remains the dominant religion of the Far East and is increasingly popular in the West. Over its long history Buddhist has developed into a wide variety of forms, ranging from an emphasis on religious rituals and worship of deities to a complete rejection of both rituals and deities in favor of pure meditation. But all share in common a great respect for the teachings of the Buddha, "The Enlightened One."

Buddhism was founded by an Indian prince named Siddharta Gautama around the year 500 BCE. According to tradition, the young prince lived an affluent and sheltered life until a journey during which he saw an old man, a sick man, a poor man, and a corpse. Shocked and distressed at the suffering in the world, Gautama left his family to seek enlightenment through asceticism. But even the most extreme asceticism failed to bring enlightenment.

Finally, Gautama sat beneath a tree and vowed not to move until he had attained enlightenment. Days later, he arose as the Buddha - the "enlightened one." He spent the remaining 45 years of his life teaching the path to liberation from suffering (the dharma) and establishing a community of monks (the sangha).

Today, there are over 360 million followers of Buddhism. Although virtually extinct in its birthplace of India, it is prevalent throughout China, Japan and Southeast Asia. In the 20th century, Buddhism expanded its influence to the West and even to western religions. There are now over one million American Buddhists and even a significant number of "Jewish Buddhists." Buddhist concepts have also been influential on western society in general, primarily in the areas of meditation and nonviolence.

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Education

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[s4mweller]

@Tarnion With the greatest respect, I don't think that you have to believe in reincarnation, or anything else, to become a Buddhist. You come to Buddhism with the beliefs that you hold. No-one asks you to change any of them. The Buddha himself said that we are not to believe anything simply because he, or anyone else, taught it. Personally, I think that the 4 Noble Truths and the 8 Fold Path, are at the heart of Buddhism, rather than reincarnation.

[kukumatz100]

@bigman1171 that does not surprise me at all..

[bjbum]

@RockSteadyGirl555 I imagine you suffer quite a bit.

[HybridD91]

@RockSteadyGirl555 "there is no such thing as an atheist." You apparently never heard of a dictionary.

[Sinistarlight]

@RockSteadyGirl555

How so?

[Sinistarlight]

All information/knowledge is a wonderful creative expression of our creative diversity. It matters not what religion, or spirituality one chooses to follow, or not follow. They all have their place in this wonderful place of life, it is simply a matter if one finds something useful in it to facilitate a greater sense of liberation. It is funny how some entertain the proclivity to somehow prove or disprove a formular of words in order to project themselves as holding some info higher knowing.

[blackdogbama]

Anyone know who's narrating this?

Sounds like Brandon Boyd.

[RockSteadyGirl555]

@Hoobifta yes it is a religion a fake one at that. they think lots of meditation and chanting will bring them to enlightenment, so some reading and research and you will see. fake!!!

[RockSteadyGirl555]

@Tarnion don't waste your time with this its a false religion.

[RockSteadyGirl555]

@Anunnaki12P "irreducible complexity" my friend, and there is no such thing as an atheist. An athiest is basically a believer in his own rules and morals, a person that supposedly does not follow anyone but his own way, satanism in a sense as satan following = self worship