Founded over 2,500 years ago by Siddhartha Gautama, Buddhism is a spiritual tradition followed by an estimated 500 million people worldwide.

It is considered non-theistic, as it lacks a creator god and focuses instead on personal spiritual development to achieve enlightenment, or inner awakening.

At its heart, the tradition seeks to address the problem of human suffering and the path to overcoming it.

Its principles, such as peace, understanding, and mindfulness, have become popular globally.

The Life of the Buddha

Siddhartha Gautama, who became the Buddha or "Awakened One," was born a prince in present-day Nepal around the 5th century BCE.

Though sheltered from hardship, he eventually witnessed an old man, a sick person, a corpse, and a holy man—the "Four Sights" that awakened him to the reality of suffering.

This motivated him to renounce his royal life to search for truth.

After six years of extreme self-denial failed to provide answers, he chose a "Middle Way" between luxury and self-torture.

This Middle Way became a central principle in Buddhism, one of balance, avoiding extremes of indulgence and harsh discipline.

While meditating under the Bodhi Tree, he attained nirvana (complete awakening) at age 35 and became the Buddha.

He then delivered his first sermon, teaching the Four Noble Truths and establishing a community of followers known as the Sangha.

The Buddha taught people from all social classes for decades before his death at age 80.

Core Teachings

The Four Noble Truths

The foundation of Buddhist teaching can be summarized in four key insights:

The Truth of Suffering (Dukkha): Life inherently involves suffering and dissatisfaction. Even happy moments are temporary.
The Truth of the Cause of Suffering (Samudaya): Suffering originates from craving, attachment, and desire for things that are impermanent.
The Truth of the End of Suffering (Nirodha): It is possible to end suffering by extinguishing craving and attachment, thereby attaining nirvana.
The Truth of the Path (Magga): The way to end suffering is to follow the Noble Eightfold Path.

This framework is seen as empowering, as it states that we can understand and free ourselves from suffering through our own efforts.

These three insights—dukkha (suffering), anicca (impermanence), and anattā (non-self)—are also known as the “Three Marks of Existence.”

They are central to understanding the Buddhist view of reality.

The Noble Eightfold Path

The path to end suffering consists of eight interconnected practices, often depicted as an eight-spoked wheel.

They are grouped into three categories of training: wisdom, ethical conduct, and mental discipline.

Right Understanding: Correctly comprehending the Four Noble Truths.
Right Thought: Adopting intentions of goodwill and harmlessness.
Right Speech: Speaking truthfully and kindly.
Right Action: Behaving ethically, including refraining from harming living beings, stealing, or sexual misconduct.
Right Livelihood: Earning a living in a way that does not cause harm.
Right Effort: Cultivating positive thoughts and abandoning negative ones.
Right Mindfulness: Maintaining awareness of the body, feelings, and mind in the present moment.
Right Concentration: Practicing deep meditation to quiet the mind and gain insight.

The path is not necessarily linear. It is a holistic approach where progress in one area supports growth in others.

Key Concepts in Buddhism

Karma: The law of cause and effect where wholesome actions lead to positive results and unwholesome actions lead to suffering. Karma is not fate; individuals shape their experience through their choices.
Samsāra: The continuous cycle of birth, death, and rebirth, which is characterized by suffering. The ultimate goal is to break free from this cycle.
Nirvana: The ultimate goal of Buddhism—liberation from suffering and the cycle of samsara. It is a state of profound peace and freedom that results from extinguishing greed, hatred, and delusion.
Anicca (Impermanence): The principle that all things are in a constant state of change. Understanding this helps reduce attachment.
Anattā (Non-self): The teaching that there is no permanent, unchanging "self" or soul. What we perceive as "I" is a temporary collection of physical and mental components.
The Five Precepts: Lay Buddhists often observe five basic ethical guidelines: refrain from killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, and intoxication. These form the foundation of moral practice for everyday life.

The Three Poisons

At the root of all suffering are the Three Poisons. These are considered the main causes of unwholesome actions and ongoing dissatisfaction:

Attachment or Greed (Rāga): Clinging and desire for things to be a certain way.
Aversion or Hatred (Dosa): Anger, hostility, and rejection.
Delusion or Ignorance (Moha): Misunderstanding the true nature of reality.

These poisons are symbolically represented in the Buddhist Wheel of Life as a rooster, a snake, and a pig, respectively.

Overcoming them is essential for spiritual liberation.

The Three Main Schools of Buddhism

Buddhism has evolved into diverse traditions, with three main branches:

Theravāda ("Teaching of the Elders"): The oldest surviving school, prominent in Southeast Asia. It emphasizes personal liberation through meditation and ethical living, with the aim of becoming an arhat—someone who has attained enlightenment.
Mahāyāna ("Great Vehicle"): The dominant tradition in East Asia. It introduces the Bodhisattva ideal—one who seeks enlightenment not just for personal liberation but to help liberate all beings. This school places a strong emphasis on compassion and accepts additional scriptures, such as the Lotus and Heart Sutras.
Vajrayāna ("Diamond Vehicle"): A branch of Mahāyāna, prominent in Tibet and the Himalayan regions. Often called Tibetan Buddhism, it uses unique and accelerated methods like mantras, visualizations, and rituals to achieve enlightenment. This path requires guidance from a qualified teacher, or Lama.

Common Buddhist Practices

Meditation and Mindfulness: Used to calm the mind, develop compassion, and gain wisdom. Mindfulness involves paying close attention to the present moment.
Chanting and Rituals: Chanting sacred texts helps focus the mind and show devotion. Rituals like making offerings are acts of reverence for the Buddha's teachings.
Monastic Life: Monks and nuns in the Sangha (monastic community) dedicate themselves fully to practicing and teaching the Dharma. The Sangha is also one of Buddhism’s Three Jewels—the Buddha, the Dharma (teachings), and the Sangha (community).
Pilgrimage: Visiting holy sites connected to the Buddha's life, such as his birthplace in Lumbini and place of enlightenment in Bodh Gaya, is a way to generate inspiration and merit.

Sacred Texts

Buddhism does not have a single holy book but rather different canons for its traditions.

The Pali Canon (Tipitaka): The "Three Baskets" of the Buddha's teachings, considered the foundational scripture in Theravāda Buddhism.
Mahayana Sutras: A collection of over 2,000 texts that expand on concepts like compassion and emptiness. Famous examples include the Lotus Sutra and the Heart Sutra.
The Tibetan Book of the Dead (Bardo Thödol): A well-known Vajrayāna text that serves as a guide for the consciousness in the period between death and rebirth.

Symbols in Buddhism

Dharma Wheel: An eight-spoked wheel that represents the Noble Eightfold Path and the Buddha's teachings.
Bodhi Tree: The sacred fig tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment, symbolizing the potential for awakening.
Lotus Flower: Symbolizes purity and enlightenment, as it rises unstained from muddy water.
Buddha Image: Not an idol, but a representation honored for its symbolic qualities of wisdom, compassion, and peace. Hand gestures, or mudras, convey specific meanings, such as teaching, fearlessness, or meditation.

Buddhism in the Modern World

Buddhism continues to adapt and remain relevant today.

Western Adaptation: In the West, Buddhism has often focused more on meditation and ethics. This has led to the secular mindfulness movement, where techniques derived from Buddhist meditation are used for stress reduction and mental health.
Engaged Buddhism: This modern movement applies Buddhist principles to social, political, and environmental issues. Figures like Thích Nhất Hạnh and the Dalai Lama have been prominent voices for using compassion to address suffering caused by war, injustice, and climate change.
Interfaith Dialogue: Buddhist leaders frequently engage with other religions to foster mutual understanding and share perspectives on ethics and spirituality. Its non-dogmatic approach appeals to many who identify as "spiritual but not religious."

Introduction to Buddhism