Buddhism (also known as Buddha Dharma, meaning approximately Law of the Awakened One) is a religion, a practical philosophy, and arguably a psychology, focusing on the teachings of the Buddha Śākyamuni (Siddhārtha Gautama), who lived in ancient India most likely from the mid-6th to the early 5th century BCE. Buddhism spread throughout the Indian subcontinent in the five centuries following the Buddha's passing, and propagated into Central, Southeast, and East Asia over the next two millennia. Today, Buddhism is divided primarily into three traditions: Theravāda (Sanskrit: Sthaviravāda), Mahāyāna, and Vajrayāna. Buddhism continues to attract followers worldwide, and, with about 708 million adherents, it is considered a major world religion. Buddhism is the fourth-largest religion in the world.

When used in a generic sense, a Buddha is generally considered to be a person who discovers the true nature of reality through years of spiritual cultivation, investigation of the various religious practices of his time, and meditation. This transformational discovery is called bodhi - literally, "Awakening" (more commonly called "Enlightenment"). Any person who has become awakened from the "sleep of ignorance" by directly realizing the true nature of reality is called a Buddha. Śākyamuni is said to have been only the latest of many of these; there were other Buddhas before him and there will be others in the future. According to the Buddha, any person can follow his example and become enlightened through the study of his words "Dharma" and putting them into practice, by leading a virtuous, moral life, and purifying his mind. Concisely put the aim of Buddhist practice is to put an end to this mass of suffering we call existence. "I teach one thing and one thing only: suffering and the end of suffering" (The Buddha). To achieve this state, adherents train and purify the mind by following the Noble Eightfold Path, and the Middle Way, eventually arriving at an understanding of the true nature of all things, thus ending (nirodha) all ignorance and unhappiness and attaining liberation: (Pāli nibbāna).

Gautama the Buddha

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Why I love Buddhism 2 of 4: ... In my view, science and Buddhism share a search for the truth and for understanding reality...
JimSly (Jim Sly) Wed, 02 Dec 2009 21:02:37 -0000
Why I love Buddhism 2 of 4: ... In my view, science and Buddhism share a search for the truth and for understanding reality...
got totally lost in philosophy of mind, philosophy of science, buddhism and integral theory articles on wikipedia. I heart wikipedia.
sleslie (Scott Leslie) Wed, 02 Dec 2009 05:27:19 -0000
got totally lost in philosophy of mind, philosophy of science, buddhism and integral theory articles on wikipedia. I heart wikipedia.
If science proves some belief of Buddhism wrong, then Buddhism will have to change. In my view, science and Buddhism share a search for the
jjaparo (Jason Aparo) Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:44:01 -0000
If science proves some belief of Buddhism wrong, then Buddhism will have to change. In my view, science and Buddhism share a search for the
Science and Buddhism http://www.island.lk/2009/12/01/features4.html
sathmaga (Sathmaga) Tue, 01 Dec 2009 04:19:54 -0000
Science and Buddhism http://www.island.lk/2009/12/01/features4.html
Both Buddhism and Science teach me the truth of life.
Sodazzza (Guggs Worachart) Mon, 30 Nov 2009 04:22:49 -0000
Both Buddhism and Science teach me the truth of life.
i see @ohhdlinfo sees a bridge? between science and buddhism. i'm not a buddhist, and i love/adopt some of bddhst way. can i do that? ...(:
blueskytiger (juliechristine) Sat, 28 Nov 2009 17:22:37 -0000
i see @ohhdlinfo sees a bridge? between science and buddhism. i'm not a buddhist, and i love/adopt some of bddhst way. can i do that? ...(:

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