Buddhism
- Origin
- around the 5th century BC, northern India (Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha)
- Sacred text
- Tripitaka (Pali Canon) and further texts
- Followers today
- over 300 million (approx. 4%)
A path out of suffering through insight, mindfulness and compassion. Main schools: Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana.
Origin
Buddhism arose in the 5th century BC in northern India. Siddhartha Gautama, a prince, left his life in the palace and found enlightenment. Since then he has been called the Buddha, the awakened one.
Beliefs and practice
The Buddha taught the Four Noble Truths: life means suffering, suffering has causes, it can end, and the Eightfold Path leads there. The main schools are Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana. Buddhism does not know a creator god.
Spread
Emperor Ashoka supported Buddhism in the 3rd century BC. Along the Silk Road it reached China, Korea and Japan, and by sea Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia. In India itself it later weakened.
Today
There are over 300 million Buddhists. Many live in China, Thailand, Japan, Myanmar and Vietnam. Counting people who follow Buddhist customs, the number is higher.
Good to know
- The Buddha was born in Lumbini, in today's Nepal.
- The Dalai Lama is the head of Tibetan Buddhism.
- In Thailand many young men live for a time as monks.
Figures are rough estimates, rounded, based on self-reported survey data.
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