Reflection

I did not know much about the different sects of Buddhism.  I knew more about zen buddhism because I have read a couple books on it before.  It was really interesting to learn about the different schools and their different positions on various topics within the religion.  I also did not know much about Buddhist traditions and practices apart from meditation.  It was really fascinating to learn about the mandalas, and the symbolism behind them.  I do not have a religion, however many of the tenets of Buddhism ring true to what I believe and many do not.  I do not believe anyone should live their life dispassionately, however I understand how this unattachment may lead to a life with less suffering.  I believe that many of the beliefs about compassion, and treating others and yourself well are valid and are a good thing to follow to improve your life, and the life of others.  Many things in Buddhism make sense for me, but many do not.  I do not personally believe in any supernatural beings, which neither does Buddhism, however some schools believe that buddhas and bodhisattvas are in a place beyond this world.  I find meditation most interesting I think.  I hope to try it some time, and experience the mental clarity which it allegedly gives you.  I think it is a really cool concept, however I think I would fall asleep too easily.  Buddhism is a fascinating religion, and I hope to learn more about it in the future. 

Bibliography

Dalai Lama:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/buddhism/people/dalailama_1.shtml
http://people.howstuffworks.com/dalai-lama1.htm

Sangha Day:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/buddhism/holydays/sangha.shtml

Denominations:
http://www.diffen.com/difference/Theravada_vs_Zen
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/bullitt/theravada.html\
http://buddhism.about.com/od/chanandzenbuddhism/a/zen101.htm
Hardcore Zen by Brad Warner

Buddhist Practices:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/buddhism/customs/mandala.shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/buddhism/customs/meditation_1.shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/buddhism/customs/worship_1.shtml
http://www.buddhanet.net/mandalas.htm
http://www.learnmeditationskills.com/reflective-meditation.html
http://www.patheos.com/Library/Buddhism/Ritual-Worship-Devotion-Symbolism/Worship-and-Devotion-in-Daily-Life.html
http://www.thebigview.com/buddhism/index.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/story/bl015.html

Main Beliefs:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/buddhism/beliefs/fournobletruths_1.shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/buddhism/beliefs/karma.shtml
http://www.londonbuddhistvihara.org/qa/qa_practices.htm
http://www.thebigview.com/buddhism/eightfoldpath.html
http://www.thebigview.com/buddhism/karma.html

Dalai Lama

The Dalai Lama is the head monk of Tibetan Buddhism, and until the Chinese invasion of Tibet in 1959, he also governed Tibet.  The Dalai Lama leads the Gelug-pa or Yellow Hat sect of Tibetan Buddhists.  This group restored discipline to monastic life and promoted academic excellence in the late 14th century.  Relative to Buddhism, Dalai Lamas are a recent development.  There have been a total of 14 lamas to date, and the first two were given the title after their death.  The Dalai Lama is said to the reincarnation of the past lama, who came back to continue his work as a spiritual and political leader.  The name Dalai Lama means Ocean of Wisdom, the current Dalai Lama is Tenzin Gyatso.  The first Dalai Lama, Gedun Drupa, was born 1391.  He founded the Tashi Lhunpo monastery.  After a Dalai Lama dies, the High Lamas begin the search for a new Lama.  There are a few ways they search for the new leader: 

Dream: if one of the High Lamas dreams of a place in which he might be found, or any other distinguishing characteristic

Smoke:  The High Lamas cremate the previous Dalai Lama and follow the smoke

Oracle Lake:  The High Lamas visit a holy lake in central Tibet and wait for a sign

The High Lamas will then present children along their path with birthdays near to the death of the previous Dalai Lama with artifacts, and if the child chooses that of the previous Dalai Lama, it is an indication he is the reincarnation.

Tenzin Gyatso

Tenzin Gyatso is the 14th reincarnation of the Dalai Lama.  There were many significant signs which seemed to guide the High Lamas to Tenzin Gyatso.  He and Tibet have struggled greatly with the violent occupation of the China People’s Republic.  He is the first Dalai Lama to travel west, and did so with the intent to raise awareness and suppor for Buddhisma and resistence in Tibet.  In 1989 Gyatso received the Nobel Peace Prize for maintaining peace with the Chinese government, despite the knowledge that many Tibetans would gladly go to war to restore him as their leader. 

Dalai Lamas:  

• The First Dalai Lama, Gedun Drupa: 1391-1474
• Second, Gedun Gyatso: 1475-1542
• Third, Sonam Gyatso: 1543-1588
• Fourth, Yonten Gyatso: 1589-1617
• Fifth, Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso, "The Great Fifth": 1617-1682
• Sixth, Tsangyang Gyatso: 1682-1706
• Seventh, Kelsang Gyatso: 1708-1757
• Eighth, Jamphel Gyatso: 1758-1804
• Ninth, Lungtok Gyatso: 1805-1815
• Tenth, Tsultrim Gyatso: 1816-1837
• 11th, Khedrup Gyatso: 1838-1856
• 12th, Trinley Gyatso: 1856-1875
• 13th, Thupten Gyatso: 1876-1933

Sangha Day

Sangha day, also Fourfold Assembly or Magha Puja Day, is the second most important Buddhist Festival.  It celebrates the Sangha or the Buddhist followers and community.  Sangha day is a commemoration of the spontaneous enlightenment of 1,300 monks at Buddhas Veluvana Vihara.  It was here the Buddha gave his first sermon, the rules of monastic order.  On Sangha Day people may exchange gifts, and celebrate the community they have created.  Generally, the buddhists gathered will chant, meditate and show their everlasting commitment to Buddhism.  

Denominations of Buddhism

Zen Buddhism 

Zen buddhism is a very "hands on" school of buddhism in that there is virtually no worship, no symbolic rituals, just pure unadulterated mental clarity.  Zen buddhism focuses around the Buddhist idea that all things are temporary and we must always be in the present.  Zen Buddhism also claims to be neither philosophy nor religion, but rather the act of just understanding what truly is in the world.  Zen is to simply be alive, zen is meditation. Zen buddhism does not put a lot of importance in following any practice but meditation, however does go by the eightfold path and the four noble truths  

Theravada Buddhism

Theravada Buddhism is mainly found in Southern Asia, in countries like Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos and Myanmar.  The name means "the teaching of the elders" in Sanskrit.  This school of Buddhism claims that it is the closest to the teachings of the original Buddha, and that it is the purest form of Buddhism.  

Theravada Buddhism, , does not worship nor recognize any supernatural entities.  Siddartha Gautama became the Buddha, the Awakened One, and since his death the only contact with him is through his teachings.  Theravadists believe that the path to enlightenment is a very personal journey, without the help of any sort of deity or supernatural being.   

Theravada Buddhism is a school which is said to be one of the two main type of schools, Mahayana and Theravada.  

Theravada Buddhists believe in the eightfold path, the four noble truths, and something known as the 10 hindrances.  The 10 hindrances are known as follows:

1. The belief in a permanent personality, ego
2. Doubt, extreme skepticism
3. Attachment to rites, rituals, and ceremonies
4. Attachment to sense desires
5. Ill-will, anger
6. Craving for existence in the Form world (heavenly realms)
7. Craving for existence in the Formless world (heavenly realms)
8. Conceit
9. Restlessness
10. Ignorance  

Both Theravada and Zen do not define the existence or nature of any Supreme Being or Creator.  Zen Buddhists as well as Theravada Buddhists regularly visit temple to meditate, the only difference being that  Theravada Buddhists leave donations for the monks/nuns and zen Buddhists leave a donation for the monks/nuns as well as the Buddha.  The two schools both practice the religious law of dharma, and their place of worship is typically a Temple or Pagoda.  Both are Dharmic religions which allow to follow more than one religion.  Zen Buddhists and Theravada Buddhists may practice any day.  The essential belief that suffering is the origin of desire is a similar tenet .  

 The largest and perhaps most substantial difference between the two lies on their stance on the Buddha.  Theravada Buddhists believe that Siddartha Gautama was the Buddha, the Enlightened one, and not he is gone forever leaving only his teachings behind.  This is how the Buddha explained it in the pali canon, enlightenment is wholly the effort of the student.  In Zen Buddhism, they follow Gautama Buddha and believe that he exists in a spiritual form and can answer prayers and help people.  Buddha can help the student find enlightenment, but this path is still mostly the effort of the student.  Theravada Buddhism is based solely in the language pali, whereas Zen is based in pali, sanskrit, as well as chinese.  Theravada relies solely on the most ancient texts which are the direct word of Buddha whereas there are many Mahayana texts accumulated after the death of Buddha, and commentaries by Zen teachers.  Some schools use the ancient text as well but do not recognize its authority over Mahayana.  Holy days for the Theravadists are Wasak, Buddha’s Birthday and the Theavadan New Year, wherease the Zen Holy days include Wesak, Sangha Day, Chinese New Year, and Bodhi day.  Theravada originates from northern India/Nepal however Zen Buddhism originated in China.  The most valuable attribute in Theravada is the practice of detachment, however in Zen it is the practice of compassion.

The schools of Theravada and Zen seem to be more different than similar in many aspects of the religion, however both maintain basic Buddhist ideals.    

Buddhist Worship

Buddhists can worship in a group setting, at a temple, at home, or not at all.  In the home, Buddhists will often have a room set aside for worship.  The room would have a statue of Buddha, a candle, and an incense burner.  Buddhist temples may be in any shape or style.  The most well known temples are the pagodas of China and Japan, however not all temples are similar in style.  Another type of Buddhist temple is a stone enclosure around some relic or text of Buddhist teachings.  Five different elements are symbolized in Buddhist temples: fire, air, earth (symbolized by the square base), water, and wisdom (symbolized by the pinnacle at the top).  All Buddhist temples have an image, statue, or representation of some kind, of the Buddha.  

There are many different ways to worship in Buddhism due to the many schools and denominations of Buddhism.  In the Mahayana tradition, buddhists may worship Buddha and the Bodhisattvas.

A mantra is a phrase, words, or prayer that is repeated many times, which has a spiritual effect on a person.  One of the most well known mantras is simply Om.  Om appears at the beginning of another famous mantra, om mani padme hum.  The phrase very roughly translates to "Behold! The jewel in the lotus!", although this translation does not accurately capture the deep spiritual meaning this phrase holds for Buddhists.  Throughout Buddhism there are many different ways that one can worship.  Each person's worship is a very personal experience which they view with great levity.  Worship is a large part of the Buddhist lifestyle.   

Buddhist Practices

Meditation

“All we are is the result of what we have thought: is founded on our thoughts, it is made up of our thoughts.” Dhammapada Chapter 1:1-2

Meditation is a conscious effort to control and to change how the mind is functions.  Buddhist meditiation is the act of turning your thoughts away from the world and its activity and towards our thoughts, feelings, and perceptions.  Meditation involves yhr mind entering a state of one-pointedness, which comprises the six forces; hearing pondering, mindfulness, awareness, effort, and intimacy.  

Types of Meditation

There are many ways in which a mind can reach the mental clarity which defines meditation.  These practices have been generally grouped into four different types of meditation.  These include Concentrative, Generative, Receptive, Reflevtive.  

Concentrative

Concentrative meditation is meditation during which you begin by focusing all attention upon one object until it becomes clearer and calmer.  There are many things you can focus on, a mantra, a tactile perception, etc., however the most common method is to focus upon the breathing (anapanasati).  

Breathing in long, he discerns, 'I am breathing in long'; or breathing out long, he discerns, 'I am breathing out                  long.' Or breathing in short, he discerns, 'I am breathing in short'; or breathing out short, he discerns, 'I am breathing out short.' He trains himself, 'I will breathe in sensitive to the entire body.' He trains himself, 'I will breathe out sensitive to the entire body.' He trains himself, 'I will breathe in calming bodily fabrication.' He trains himself, 'I will breathe out calming bodily fabrication.' Just as a skilled turner or his apprentice, when making a long turn, discerns, 'I am making a long turn,' or when making a short turn discerns, 'I am making a short turn'; in the same way the monk, when breathing in long, discerns, 'I am breathing in long'; or breathing out long, he discerns, 'I am breathing out long' ... He trains himself, 'I will breathe in calming bodily fabrication.' He trains himself, 'I will breathe out calming bodily fabrication.'
Buddha: Maha-satipatthana Sutta

Generative

One example of Generative meditation is the practice of metta bhavana or “loving kindness”.  Metta Bhavana begins with the thought, “May I be free from enmity; may I be free from ill will; may I be ride of suffering; may I be happy.”  After doing this, the next step is applying this same form to the same degree, but towards a companion or a friend. Following the thoughts of a friend, thoughts of a neutral party should follow.  Harbor the caring and compassionate words towards someone whom you neither like nor dislike.  Next is repeating these same lines, and harboring the same compassion for someone who is hostile, or whom you dislike.  When the feelings of loving kindness are equal for all four beings, a meditation has been successful.  To bring it a step further, the meditator can extend the feelings towards all sentient beings, to envelop the entire world, good and bad. 
(And let him think:) In safety and in bliss
May creatures all be of a blissful heart.
Whatever breathing beings there may be,
No matter whether they are frail or firm
With none excepted, be they long or big
Or middle sized, or be they short or small
Or thick, as well as those seen or unseen,
Or whether they are dwelling far or near,
Existing or yet seeking to exist,
May creatures all be of a blissful heart.
Let no one work another one's undoing
Or even slight him at all anywhere;
And never let them wish each other ill
Through provocation or resentful thought
Buddha: Metta Sutta

Receptive

Receptive meditation is particularly popular in zen buddhism.  This practice of meditation is simply the act of being mindful, and practicing zazen.  Zazen or 'just sitting' is meditation through sitting, eyes open, and just being aware of what is happening exactly in each moment without judging, trying to change things, or fantasizing.  A similar practice is the Tibetan tradition of dzogchen.  In both, the aim of meditation is to revel in the moment and not being separate from the present.  

Reflective

Reflective meditation is choosing a topic or theme to think about.  The mind should focus around this theme but be open to whatever arises, acknowledging the wayward thought, and then returning to the theme.  The mind is able to think throughout our daily lives, but the thought is muddled and unclear.  The idea of reflective meditation is to take advantage of the clear and focused menial state of meditation to think about difficult questions.  Some examples of questions to use for reflective meditation: Who am I?, what is the meaning of life?, the universal laws of cause and effect, what is the nature of change and impermanence?, the preciousness of life and the inevitability of death, the interdependence of all beings, what legacy do I want to leave when I am gone?, what values and principles are worth living for?, how can I help relieve the sufferings of others?

Mandala

Mandalas are a tradition in primarily the Tibetan sect of Buddhism.  The word mandala means "circle" in sanskrit, and indeed mandalas are sacred geometric circles.  A mandala is a geometric design created with colored sands, known in Tibetan as dul0tson-kyil-khor, or "mandala of colored powders."  Mandalas were said to have been introduced by the Buddha himself, and each different design of the mandala is a different lesson to teach.   

The construction of a mandala is a deeply spiritual and sacred ritual, a meditative practice, which can take weeks to finish.  The general design of the mandala is outlined on a platform of some sort.  Normally, four monks work simultaneously on a mandala.  They work together from the center outward.  The center of the mandala is typically dedicated to a deity, though some mandalas do not have deities.  From the center they work creating intricate and time consuming designs with colored sand.  Though mandalas are usually made with colored sand, sometimes they are created using powdered flowers and herbs or grains.  Gems and precious stones were often used in ancient times.  Some mandalas are painted to endure as an object of meditation, but normally they are destroyed as a symbol of the Buddhist idea of the impermanence of all things.  To destroy them, a monk will brush the sand from the edge toward the middle, and the resulting sand will be deposited into moving water, extending the positive energies.  

Mandalas are overflowing with Buddhist symbolism.  Outside of the center of the mandala are several concentric circles.  The outside circle is usually a ring of fire, which simonizes the transformation humans must undergo before entering the innermost realms.  The next ring is a ring of thunderbolts and diamond scepters which symbolize indestructibility and illumination.  Next is a ring of eight graveyards, indicating the eight aspects of human consciousness that forces it to remain in samsara (rebirth).  The innermost ring is mad of lotus leaves, the lotus flower being of paramount importance in the Buddhist culture, these flowers represent religious rebirth.  The square at the center of the mandala often represented either the four boundless thoughts (loving-kindness, compassion, sympathy, and equanimity) or the four directions (north, east, south, west).  In the center of the mandala is the chief deity, the center of the mandala represents the seed or center of the universe. 

Buddhist Worship 

Buddhists can worship in a group setting, at a temple, at home, or not at all.  In the home, Buddhists will often have a room set aside for worship.  The room would have a statue of Buddha, a candle, and an incense burner.  Buddhist temples may be in any shape or style.  The most well known temples are the pagodas of China and Japan, however not all temples are similar in style.  Another type of Buddhist temple is a stone enclosure around some relic or text of Buddhist teachings.  Five different elements are symbolized in Buddhist temples: fire, air, earth (symbolized by the square base), water, and wisdom (symbolized by the pinnacle at the top).  All Buddhist temples have an image, statue, or representation of some kind, of the Buddha.  

There are many different ways to worship in Buddhism due to the many schools and denominations of Buddhism.  In the Mahayana tradition, buddhists may worship Buddha and the Bodhisattvas.

A mantra is a phrase, words, or prayer that is repeated many times, which has a spiritual effect on a person.  One of the most well known mantras is simply Om.  Om appears at the beginning of another famous mantra, om mani padme hum.  The phrase very roughly translates to "Behold! The jewel in the lotus!", although this translation does not accurately capture the deep spiritual meaning this phrase holds for Buddhists. 

Throughout Buddhism there are many different ways that one can worship.  Each person's worship is a very personal experience which they view with great levity.  Worship is a large part of the Buddhist lifestyle.  

Main Beliefs

The Four Noble Truths

1. Life means suffering (Dukkha)

Meaning to live is to suffer.  All life is suffering because of the impurities of the worl we live in.  In our life time we will inevitably encounter sickness, death, old age, etc.  and endure the suffering - both physical and mental- which this causes.  

1. The origin of suffering is attachment (Samudaya) 

The cause of suffering is attatchment.  This means that because of the attachments we form, because of the friendships, the loves, the expectations that we form, we then suffer from.  The attachment to transient and temporary things is the main cause of our suffering.  Because we become attached to things, and everything is temporary, we suffer.  

1. The cessation of suffering is attainable (Nirodha)

This noble truth states that the end of suffering can be attained through dispassion.  Through the termination of clinging and attachment suffering can be avoided.  Through detachment only can Nirvana be attained.  Nirvana means freedom from all worries, trouble, complexes, fabrications and ideas.  

1. The path to the cessation of suffering (Magga)

There is a path which once followed leads to the cessation of suffering.  It is the middle way between assceticism or self-destructive mortification and over-indulgence.  It is through the eightfold path that we can find the middle way.  During his fire sermon, the Buddha said,"Disenchanted, he becomes dispassionate. Through dispassion, he is fully released. With full release, there is the knowledge, 'Fully released.' He discerns that 'Birth is depleted, the holy life fulfilled, the task done. There is nothing further for this world.” 

The Eight-fold Path

Wisdom Right View
Right Intention
Ethical Conduct Right Speech
Right Action
Right Livelihood
Meditation Right Effort
Right Mindfulness
Right Concentration

Right View

Right view is to follow the path of Buddhism and to understand that it is true.  Not to believe or have faith in, but to comprehend and practice.  It means truly seeing the ever-changing and flawed nature of all things.  It is not intelligence as much as wisdom and sagacity.  In the beginning of the journey of the eightfold path it presents itself as intuitive insight of the nature of suffering and the subjection of all things to this suffering and ends as a comprehensive grasp of the true nature of all things.  

Right Intention  

Right Intention refers to the volitional aspect of wisdom, meaning someone’s dedication towards self-improvement and the eightfold path.  The Buddha described three different types of ‘right intentions’: 1. the intention of renunciation, which means resistance to the pull of desire 2. the intention of good will, meaning the resistance to feeling of resentment or aversion, and 3. the intention of harmlessness, meaning not to think or act cruelly, violently, or aggressively and to develop compassion.

Right Speech

Right Speech is the first tenet of ethical conduct in the eightfold path.  The importance of speech is paramount and seems an obvious principle in both the Buddhist lifestyle and anybody else’s.  Words can either cultivate friendship or resentment, be the salvation or the destruction of a life, or be the source of peace or conflict.  Right speech in the words of Buddha is explained as follows: 1. to abstain from false speech, especially not to tell deliberate lies and not to speak deceitfully, 2. to abstain from slanderous speech and to not use words maliciously against others, 3. to abstain from harsh words that offend or hurt others, and 4. to abstain from idle chatter that lacks purpose or depth.  Essentially to speak only the truth, to be amiable and caring and to talk only when necessary and not to waste words.  

Right Action

Right actions refers to actions which are verbal in nature.  Impure actions lead to impure states of mind, and inversely wholesome actions lead to sound states of mind.  This means to 1. abstain from harming sentient beings, especially to abstain from taking life (suicide included) and doing harm intentionally or delinquently, 2. to abstain from taking what is not given, which includes stealing, robbery, fraud, deceitfulness, and dishonesty, and 3. to abstain from sexual misconduct.  A large factor in right action is an person’s ability for compassion and respect.  Gandhi said, “To come to the heart of  consciousness or of truth one must be able to love the meanest creature as oneself.”

Right Livelihood 

Right Livelihood means that one should pursue a living and a career path which avoids causing harm.  It means to earn only as much money as we need, and to earn it in a a compassionate way- not causing harm to anyone or anything.  To avoid the abuse of any living being- animal or otherwise, to avoid butchering or raising animals for butcher, or selling drugs/alcohol.  It is important to earn money in a righteous manner and to avoid violating right action and right speech as well.  

Right Effort

Right effort is the will you have to accomplish the other tasks.  Without the will to follow the path, you will lose your way.  Without right effort you cannot achieve anything.  Right effort is define as: 1. preventing the arising of unwholesome states, 2. to abandon unwholesome states, 3. to arouse wholesome states that have not yet arisen, and 4. to maintain the perfect wholesome states.  Through these steps one is able to prevent a lapse of the mind.  

Right Mindfulness 

Right mindfulness is the pure and mastered ability for cognition.  Usually as our mind registers our surroundings or the current state of being it comprehends it relative to our previous experiences and memories.  Our perception of the world becomes clouded through our subconscious filters.  Right mindfulness is the process of perceiving the world completely rid of any thing which might alter our perception of what truly is. Buddha described the four foundations of mindfulness as: 1. contemplation of the body, 2. contemplation of feeling (repulsive, attractive, or neutral), 3. contemplation of the state of mind, and 4. contemplation of the phenomena.  

Right Concentration

The final principle, concentration is a state in which all faculties of the mind and body are working in unison toward one, pure and concentrated state of mind.  Right concentration in concern with the eight-fold path is the act of concentrating upon wholesome thoughts.  The Buddhist method of right concentration is meditation, which is a focus on an object which becomes more and more intense as the meditation becomes deeper.  Meditation can be a means toward concentration throughout the daily life. 

Karma and Rebirth

The wheel of life, “samsara”, is an ancient symbol which symbolizes the cycle of birth, life, and death.  Karma means literally “action” in Sanskrit.  The idea of Karma is that every action you preform will be reflected in the results, a law of cause and effect.  Buddhist karma is the idea that our thoughts, and our actions lead to our state of being.  Unwholesome actions lead to unwholesome states, and inversely, wholesome actions lead to wholesome states.  Early Buddhist texts propose that not all good and bad things that happen to us are the result of karma, and that natural forces.  Tibetan Buddhism and other later texts say that all things good and bad that happen to us are the consequence of our actions.  Buddhism maintains that karma is the result of our actions, and is not a cosmic force is controlling their fate and actioning as a justice system, however this is not karma.  Karma can also follow you from a previous life and cause bad effects.  Additionally, karma determines the status a person will be reborn with.  Bad karma can lead you to come back as an animal, or suffer in a hell realm, whereas good karma can lead to to be reborn in a heavenly realm.  The aim of Buddhism is to escape the cycle of rebirth, not only to cultivate good karma to live more pleasant rebirths.  Essentially, Karma dictates that you are the summation of your actions and decisions.       

History of Buddhism

The Buddhist religion began with the birth of Siddartha Guatama.  Guatama was born in Lumbini, in Souther Nepal.  Siddartha was a prince in ancient Nepal, and was born around the year 560 B.C.E.  Shortly after the birth of Siddartha, it is said that a hermit came to the castle and predicted that the child would either become a Great King, or would reject his royal life in search of a more meaningful one, as a spiritual leader or Buddha.  King Guatama tried to shelter young Siddartha and prevented him from being exposed to any of the gruesome realities of the world.  At nineteen years of age Siddartha was married to Princess Yasodhara, and when the prince was twenty-nine his wife had his one and only child, Rahula.  Shortly afterwards Siddartha ventured outside the castle and was soon exposed to illness, old age, and death.  Horrified, Siddartha fled his sheltered and comfortable life and sought the guidance and teaching of a hermit.  He learned and practiced asceticism, but found the self-mortification was almost as unsatisfying as living in luxury.  Guatama resolved to mediate the two by living in moderate comfort, the Middle Way.  It is said that the Buddha sat beneath a tree, determined to remain there until he found truth.  Soon after he becomes a Buddha, or ‘enlightened/awakened one’.  He begins to teach the road to Enlightenment, encouraging those who seek him to practice Buddhism as he teaches it and to then see if it is something that they find to be true for themselves.  

The Buddha’s teachings are often summarized in the Four Noble Truths, which were the basis of his first sermon after attaining enlightenment.  The Eightfold path is a guide about how to live in the world and the path towards enlightenment and the end of suffering.  Buddhism was an exclusively oral tradition for about 200-years, passed on from person to person.  In 3rd century B. C. E. King Asoka enthusiastically supported Buddhism and thus the first written records of the religion were created in the form of pillars and rocks inscribed with the teachings of the Buddha.  Due in large part to the contribution and passion of Asoka for Buddhism, the religion began to spread- particularly into southern India and Sri Lanka.  To this day Sri Lanka is a stronghold for the earliest form of Buddhism, known as Theravada (school of elders).  By this time there was a gap forming in Buddhism forming different sects.  The main sect that was forming outside of Theravada was called Mahayana (the great vehicle).  

In Theravada the Buddha is a great teacher and leader, but a mortal human.  This group of Buddhists believe in self-discipline as a path to enlightenment without the help or guidance of any supernatural beings.  In Mahayana there is no god, however there are Buddhas who exist beyond this world who can offer support and guidance.  

By 1st century A. D. Buddhism had expanded throughout southeast Asia, as direct result of the extension of Indian trade.   The majority of merchants and sailers were either Buddhist or Hindu.  Buddhism is well established in China by the 2nd century A. D. and coexists with the indigenous religions of Daoism and Confucianism.  

From the first written record of Buddhism to modern day, documentation of the religion has exploded and there are now millions of texts about Buddhism.  Many sects of Buddhism have different ideas of the religion but the core remains the same.  Buddhism today is the most widespread of the ancient religions in Eastern Asia.