What Is Buddhism?
Buddhism is variously understood as a religion, a philosophy, or a set of beliefs and practices based on the teachings of the Buddha, or “Awakened One”—the title given to the Indian spiritual seeker Siddhartha Gautama after he attained enlightenment more than 2,600 years ago. The Buddha’s best-known teachings, the four noble truths and the eightfold path, describe the nature of human suffering and a way to liberate oneself from the existential pain of living and achieve nirvana.
These teachings spread from India throughout Asia and eventually the rest of the world. While the broader Buddhist family includes many different schools with their own beliefs and practices, these various traditions share a conviction that one can come to understand the truth of existence by living an ethical life dedicated to spiritual development.
That’s the short answer, but there is a lot more to say about it. Click on the questions below to dive deeper into Buddhist teachings, history, and practices.
Level 1
Let’s get started.
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Who was the Buddha?
Who are we talking about when we say “the Buddha”? While most scholars agree the Buddha was a real person who lived in ancient India, the term also refers to many other enlightened beings.
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What did the Buddha teach?
The Buddha had a lot to say about how to understand life. As his teachings spread, they picked up parts of local religious traditions and cultures, and naturally adapted to reflect that. Here are some key points of the Buddha’s teachings.
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What Do Buddhists Do?
Many associate Buddhism with meditation, and for good reason, but other practices are also important, and some Buddhists don't meditate. Read about some of the most prevalent Buddhist practices and how to meditate.
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The Many Buddhist Traditions
The variety of Buddhist traditions across the globe is astonishing. Learn how Buddhism spread worldwide and what that means for those of us interested in it now.
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Common Misconceptions about Buddhism
Are all Buddhists really vegetarian meditators? Is Buddhism pessimistic? Conflicting information about Buddhism is common. Read on to learn more about the most popular misconceptions.
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Buddhism in the 21st Century
Buddhism has come a long way from its roots. How does Buddhism understand a modern-day issue like abortion or grapple with advances in science? Find these answers and more here.
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Level 2
Discover the major Buddhist traditions.
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What’s the difference between Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana?
Buddhist schools have proliferated and evolved over time. Though the resulting variety is astounding, all schools share a common foundation. Learn about the two major traditions and the largest sub-tradition here.
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Inside the Theravada tradition
Theravada, the “way of the elders,” rests on core Buddhist teachings and is the predominant form of Buddhism practiced in Southeast Asia.
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What makes a Buddhist a Zen Buddhist?
Zen is a Mahayana tradition that emphasizes simplicity, zazen meditation, nonduality, and nonconceptual understanding.
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Who was Nichiren and what is the Nichiren school?
Nichiren Buddhism is a Mahayana school named after a 13th-century Japanese priest who stressed the Lotus Sutra.
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What does it mean to be a Pure Land Buddhist?
The Pure Land schools, found primarily in East Asia, revere the Amida Buddha, or Buddha of Infinite Light, and put their faith in him to be reborn in the Pure Land, where enlightenment comes swiftly.
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What do Tibetan Buddhists practice?
Tibetan Buddhism, also known as Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism, embraces a wide variety of experiences and mental and physical energies for use on the path to enlightenment.
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Can someone be a secular Buddhist?
Secular Dharma is a recent movement that aims to reinterpret the Buddha's teachings in the context of the global, modern world.
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Who were the Buddha’s first followers?
The significance of the Buddha’s teachings often depends on who he was talking to. Get to know some of his disciples who appear throughout Buddhist texts.
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What else did the Buddha teach?
Here are some more core teachings in Buddhist philosophy, including the eightfold path, the middle way, dependent origination, and more.
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What are the different kinds of practice?
Mindfulness meditation isn’t the be-all end-all of Buddhist practice. Dive into more practices here.
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Level 3
Delve deeper into Buddhist teachings.
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What are the precepts?
These five guidelines for ethical living are integral to the Buddha’s path of practice: refrain from killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, false and harmful speech, and intoxication.
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What holidays do Buddhists celebrate?
In Buddhist communities, the annual calendar is populated with holidays and festivals, times for celebration, reflection, and gathering together. Learn about these holidays here.
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