Buddhist
Buddhism is a spiritual tradition that focuses on personal spiritual development and the attainment of a deep insight into the true nature of life.
Buddhism teaches that all life is interconnected, so compassion is natural and important.
* Buddhism is 2,500 years old
* There are currently 376 million followers worldwide
* There are around 151, 816 Buddhists in Britain according to the 2001 census
* Buddhism arose as a result of Siddhartha Gautama’s quest for Enlightenment in around the 6th Century BCE
* There is no belief in a personal God. It is not centred on the relationship between humanity and God
* Buddhists believe that nothing is fixed or permanent – change is always possible
* The two main Buddhist sects are Theravada Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism, but there are many more
* Buddhism is a very colourful faith with many festivals throughout the year
* Buddhists can worship both at home or at a temple
The path to Enlightenment is through the practice and development of morality, meditation and wisdom.
The information above comes from the BBC Religion website.
BBC Buddhism webpages.
