Budhism

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
* Buddhism arose as a result of Siddhartha Gautama's quest forEnlightenment 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 orpermanent - change is always possible
* The two main Buddhist sects are Theravada Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism, but there are many more
* Buddhism is a very colourful faith with manyfestivals 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.

The Four NobleTruths

The Four Noble Truths contain the essence of the Buddha's teachings. It was these four principles that the Buddha came to understand during his meditation under the bodhi tree.
1. Thetruth of suffering (Dukkha)
2. The truth of the origin of suffering (Samudāya)
3. The truth of the cessation of suffering (Nirodha)
4. The truth of the path to the cessation of suffering(Magga)

Karma

Karma is a concept encountered in several Eastern religions, although having different meanings.
Teachings about karma explain that our past actions affect us, either positively ornegatively, and that our present actions will affect us in the future.
For Buddhists, karma has implications beyond this life. Bad actions in a previous life can follow a person into their next lifeand cause bad effects (which Westerners are more likely to interpret as 'bad luck').
On a larger scale, karma determines where a person will be reborn and their status in their next life. Good...