Buddhism

Buddhism is a religion and philosophy based on the teachings of the Buddha, Siddhārtha Gautama, who lived between approximately 566 and 486 BCE in India. Buddhism gradually spread from India throughout Asia to Central Asia, Sri Lanka, Tibet, Southeast Asia, as well as to East Asian countries such as China, Korea, and Japan.

What is a Buddha?

Buddha is a word in ancient Indian languages including Pāli and Sanskrit which means "one who has awakened". It is derived from the verbal root "budh", meaning "to awaken" or "to be enlightened", and "to comprehend".

Related Topics:
Indian - Pāli - Sanskrit

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The word "Buddha" denotes not just the historical Buddha Shakyamuni or Siddhartha Gautama who lived some 2,500 years ago, but a type of person, of which there have been infinite ones throughout the course of cosmic time. (As an analogy, the term "President" refers not just to one person, but to everyone who has ever held the office of presidency.) The historical Buddha is simply one member in the spiritual lineage of Buddhas, which stretches back into the infinite past and forward into the distant horizons of the future.

Related Topics:
Shakyamuni - Siddhartha Gautama

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Shakyamuni Buddha did not claim any divine status for himself, nor did he assert that he was inspired by a god or gods. A Buddha is anyone who has fully awakened to the true nature of existence, liberated from the cycle of birth, death and rebirth, has eradicated all negative qualities and developed all positive qualities, including omniscience. (Buddhas are not omnipotent, like the God of Christianity, Islam or Judaism.) All sentient beings (beings with a mind, like humans and animals) can free themselves from suffering as Gautama did, regardless of age, sex, or caste.

Related Topics:
Omniscience - Omnipotent - Christianity - Islam - Judaism - Age - Sex - Caste

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The principles by which a person can achieve enlightenment are known as the Buddhadharma, or simply the Dharma, meaning (in this context) "law, doctrine, or truth".

Related Topics:
Enlightenment - Buddhadharma - Dharma

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~