| Buddhism is a dharmic, non-theistic religion, | | | | Mahayana, the latter comprising both Eastern |
| which is also a philosophy and a system of | | | | and Northern. Some scholars[5]use other |
| psychology.[1] Buddhism is also known as | | | | schemes. The term Hinayana, referring to |
| Buddha Dharma or Dhamma, which means the | | | | Theravada and various extinct Indian schools, |
| "teachings of the Awakened One" in Sanskrit | | | | is sometimes used, but is often considered |
| and Pali, the languages of ancient Buddhist | | | | derogatory, and the World Federation of |
| texts. Buddhism was founded around the fifth | | | | Buddhists recommends it be avoided. |
| century BCE by Siddhartha Gautama, hereafter | | | | |
| referred to as "the Buddha". | | | | Buddhism continues to attract followers |
| | | | around the world and is considered a major |
| Early sources say that the Buddha was born in | | | | world religion. According to one source, |
| Lumbini (now in Nepal), and that he died | | | | "World estimates for Buddhists vary between |
| around age 80 in Kushinagar (India). He lived | | | | 230 and 500 million, with most around 350 |
| around the fifth century BCE, according to | | | | million." However, estimates are uncertain |
| scholarship.[2] Buddhism spread throughout | | | | for several countries. According to one |
| the Indian subcontinent in the five centuries | | | | analysis, Buddhism is the fifth-largest |
| following the Buddha's passing, and thence | | | | religion in the world behind Christianity, |
| into Asia and elsewhere over the next two | | | | Islam, Hinduism, and traditional Chinese |
| millennia. | | | | religion. The monks' order (Sangha), which |
| | | | began during the lifetime of the Buddha in |
| Indian Buddhism has become virtually extinct, | | | | India, is amongst the oldest organizations on |
| except in parts of Nepal. The most frequently | | | | earth. |
| used classification of present-day Buddhism | | | | |
| among scholars[3] divides present-day | | | | In Buddhism, any person who has awakened from |
| adherents into the following three | | | | the "sleep of ignorance" (by directly |
| traditions: | | | | realizing the true nature of reality), |
| | | | without instruction, is called a buddha.[8] |
| Southern Buddhism, or Theravada (its own | | | | If a person achieves this with the teachings |
| usual name for itself), also known as | | | | of a buddha, he is called an arahant. |
| Southeast Asian Buddhism, or Pali Buddhism - | | | | Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, is thus only |
| practiced mainly in Sri Lanka, Myanmar, | | | | one among other buddhas before or after him. |
| Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and parts of | | | | His teachings are oriented toward the |
| Malaysia, Vietnam, China and Bangladesh | | | | attainment of this kind of awakening, also |
| (Southeast Asia) | | | | called enlightenment, Bodhi, liberation, or |
| | | | Nirvana. |
| Eastern Buddhism, also known as East Asian | | | | |
| Buddhism, Chinese Buddhism, Sino-Japanese | | | | Part of the Buddha’s teachings |
| Buddhism, or Mahayana - practiced | | | | regarding the holy life and the goal of |
| predominantly in China, Vietnam, Korea, | | | | liberation is constituted by the "The Four |
| Japan, Singapore and parts of Russia | | | | Noble Truths", which focus on dukkha, a term |
| | | | that refers to suffering or the unhappiness |
| Northern Buddhism, also known as Tibetan | | | | ultimately characteristic of unawakened, |
| Buddhism, Tibeto-Mongolian Buddhism, or | | | | worldly life. The Four Noble Truths regarding |
| Vajrayana, sometimes called Lamaism - | | | | suffering state what is its nature, its |
| practiced mainly in Tibet, Mongolia, Bhutan | | | | cause, its cessation, and the way leading to |
| and parts of Nepal, India, China and Russia. | | | | its cessation. This way to the cessation of |
| | | | suffering is called "The Noble Eightfold |
| An alternative scheme used by some scholars | | | | Path", which is one of the fundamentals of |
| has just two divisions, Theravada and | | | | Buddhist virtuous or moral life. |