The founder of Buddhism is Buddha Shakyamuni: Born as a royal prince in 624 BC in a place known as Lumbini, originally Northern India but is now part of Nepal. Buddhism is practiced all over Asia, but is mainly practiced in China with 102 million Buddhists. There is an estimate of 535 million followers worldwide.
Buddhism is very different from other religions. For example…
- There is no almighty God.
- Not a strict religion in the context of being a faith and worship owing allegiance to a supernatural being.
- There is no savior concept in Buddhism.
- The Buddha is more of a relationship with his followers like a teacher/student.
In Buddhism, there are Four Noble Truths, which are the Foundation of Buddhism. Below are the Four Noble Truths.
The Truth of suffering
Dukkha is suffering, anxiety, stress, or unsatisfactoriness.
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The truth of the cause of sufferingSamudaya is the truth that desire causes suffering.
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the truth of the end of suffering
Nirhodha is the cure to the suffering.
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The truth of the path that frees us from sufferingMagga is the Eightfold Path, the cessation of Suffering.
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The Eightfold path
This consists of a set of eight interconnected factors or conditions, that when developed together, lead to the cessation of dukkha.
ten principle disciples
The Buddha, The primary figure in Buddhism. Accounts of his life, discourses, and monastic rules are to be believed by Buddhists to have been summarized after his death and memorized by his followers. Various collections and teachings from him were passed down through oral tradition and writing 400 years later. There are 10 principle disciples that carried on his teachings.
Symbols
There are many different Symbols in Buddhism to represent many different things in life.
HOlidays
The timing of Buddhist holidays are mostly revolved around the moon somehow. Referring to the Full Moon, New Moon, and Quarter Moon.