Buddhism

Buddihsm is listed as the fourth largest religion with around 376 million followers. It was founded by siddhartha gautama, also called the Buddha who was born in Nepal around 2500 years ago. Busshism is known as a practice of spiritual enlightenment, a path that leads to finding the truth. Buddhists practice meditation which is a way of developing more positive states of mind which are characterized by calm, concentration, awareness, and emotions such as friendliness. The word buddha is a title given to Siddhartha gautama, meaning ‘awakened one’, in a sense of having woken up to reality. At the time of his birth the astrologers prophesied that he would become either a universal monarch or a monk, a great religious teacher. In the hope of him becoming a king, his parents shielded him from all suffering and pain thinking this would make it less likely that he chooses the religious life. However, after seeing a man suffering from a disease and a family grieving over the death of one of their family member, Sidhartha was deeply disturbed. He reflected upon the suffering brought about by age, illness and death and at the age of 29, left his wife and children and his luxurious life in order to seek truth of life. Buddhism started off when Siddhartha was awakened or enlightened to the truth at the age of 35 where he first found insight to suffering and learned the ways in which it could be eliminated. After the enlightenment he decided to spread his message. During his journey, many became his disciples. They also taught of the enlightenment, and the chain has continued onto this present day.