What is Buddhism?

Buddhism is based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, the historical Buddha, an Indian prince living in the 5th century BC; the word Buddha is not a name but indicates the state of a mind that has reached the highest development. Having given up his material attachments, the Buddha achieved enlightenment, or nirvana, under a bodhi tree and proceeded to teach what he had learnt to a group of followers, from which it has eventually spread across the globe. However, Buddhism cannot be regarded as a religious revelation as the Buddha's teachings are the apprehension of eternal truths.



Buddhism is not a simple religion in the traditional way as it does not involve the conventional conception of God and denies the existence of an eternal and immutable soul. Instead, he taught the Four Noble Truths:



i) that suffering is inherent within our existence;


ii) that the cause of all human suffering lies in ignorance and therefore the craving for self-gratification;

iii) that the cessation of suffering lies in attaining nirvana, a state of enlightened all-inclusiveness;

iv) that the way to this is through the Buddha's Middle Way and the Noble Eight-Fold Path.


Through a balance of right wisdom, morality and meditation, we can improve the happiness of ourselves and that of others.


The Buddha's teachings have been interpreted differently by various different Buddhist schools of thought. The two main schools are the Theravada School, which prevails in Sri Lanka and much of South-East Asia, and the Mahayana School, prevalent in Tibet and other parts of South-East Asia. One major difference is that the Theravada supported those who strove for the salvation of the individual whereas the Mahayana supported those who stroved for the salvation of all beings. There are also a number of further schools which are part of the Mahayana, including Zen, Pure Land and Tantric Buddhism, which have all had important influences in certain places.


Most recently, the teachings of the Buddha have spread further afield than its Asian heartland and its popularity is increasing in most Western countries. In fact, it has been hailed as the fastest growing religion in Britain. This is due to its philosophical implications, its implication for physical and mental health, and its filling of a deep spiritual need in the people of the Western world. Buddhism's freedom from dogma and emphasis on finding the truth for oneself has appealed to those disillusioned with established religious traditions.