Budhism

Buddhism at a glance
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 inBritain 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 andMahayana Buddhism, but there are many more
• Buddhism is a very colorful 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.



















Wheel of Life overview: The Bhavachakra, the Wheel of Life or Wheel of Becoming, is a mandala - acomplex picture representing the Buddhist view of the universe. To Buddhists, existence is a cycle of life, death, rebirth and suffering that they seek to escape altogether.

The Wheel is divided into five or six realms, or states, into which a soul can be reborn. It is held by a demon. Around the rim are depicted the twelve stages of dependent origination. This gallery will explain the parts ofthe diagram. 




Holy Days

• Dharma Day
• Kathina
• Losar
• Parinirvana
• Sangha Day
• Wesak
• Perfume Pagoda festival of Vietnam (from BBC News)




Buddhist customs


Venerating the Buddha

The Buddhist tradition has developed many different customs and practices in different parts of the world.

This may take the form of meditating on the qualities of Buddha, andhonoring the Buddha or Buddha-figure.

A person could honor the Buddha by making offerings to relics or images of the Buddha.

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The exchange of gifts

In the Theravada tradition, Buddhist laypersons often give gifts to Buddhist monks but giving is also encouraged more generally, to one another and to good causes.

In Theravada Buddhism, monks are considered to embody the fruits ofBuddhist practice. Monks' responsibility is to share these with lay Buddhists through their example and teaching.

Giving to monks is also thought to benefit lay people and to win them merit.


Pilgrimage

Four main centers of pilgrimage sprung up within the first couple of hundred years after Buddha's death which marked key locations in the Buddha's life.

Since then other centers have emergedin virtually every area where Buddhism has been established, each with its own practices and customs.

The purpose of pilgrimage is to foster a spiritual discipline, to fulfil a vow or simply to travel. It is an important Buddhist practice.

Pilgrimage also helps to express feelings of devotion and creates a relationship with the historical figures associated with the pilgrimage site.Ordination

Admission to the monastic sangha involves two rites of passage:

• Renunciation of the secular life
• Acceptance of monasticism as a novice
Since in many cases, acceptance as a monk could not be made before the age of 20, the two rites could be separated by many years.

Ordination is an important ceremony in all traditions. In the Theravada, for example, ordination means becominga monk. To become a Theravadin monk a postulant shaves his head and beard and adopts the yellow robes of the monk.

Various vows are exchanged, including the repetition of the Ten Precepts.

Then the postulant is questioned about past behaviour and their suitability for the position. If satisfied, the officiating abbot admits the postulant.


Meditation

Meditation is a mental and...