BUDDHISM

Buddhism is a set of teachings rooted in the teachings of a "buddha" (awakened one) named Shakyamuni, whose given name was Siddhartha Gautama and who lived on the Indian sub-continent in the 5th-6th centuries B.C. As a practical and philosophical system, it took shape over time as succeeding generations of his disciples developed the teachings further and spread over a wide area. Shakyamuni preached in ways that spoke directly to the unique needs and capacities of each individual and culture. There are consequently many different approaches and focuses in Buddhism, but common to all of them is the attainment of wisdom that helps one to overcome delusive passions and understand what he called the Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Path: there is suffering, there are causes for it, there is an end to it, and there is correct training and practice (the Eightfold Path) for ending suffering. In short, Buddhists believe this to be spiritual salvation (nirvana) and the source of unshakable happiness- in other words, freedom from ignorance and craving.