Facts Facts on Buddhism

Tibetan prayer wheel.

The lotus is an important Buddhist symbol. Photo: Lindley Ashline

Young Burmese monks on their morning alms rounds. Photo © Sara Heinrichs.

Jokhang Temple, Lhasa, Tibet. Photo:Philip Lai.

Prayer wheels at a temple in Nepal. Photo: Dey.

Buddhist monks and devotees at the ancient Ajanta Caves in India. Photo:Marc Shandro.

The Eight Auspicious Symbols of Buddhism.

Buddhist temple in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Buddhist meditation at home. Photo ©Gaiam.

Buddhist flag in Wellington, New Zealand.

The Buddhist goddess Tara.

Room for zazen (sitting meditation) in a Zen temple, Kyoto, Japan. Photo:Roberto Chinnici.

Meaning of name "Buddhism":: System taught by the Buddha
Date founded:: c. 520 BCE
Place founded:: Northeastern India
Founder:: Siddharta Gautama ("the Buddha"), an Indian prince
Adherents:: 360 million {1}
Size rank:: Fourth largest world religion {2}
Main locations:: China, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia
Major divisions:: Theravada, Mahayana, Vajrayana
Sacred texts:: Pali Canon (Tripitaka), numerous Mahayana sutras
Original language:: Pali
Spiritual leader:: Monk (lama in Tibetan Buddhism)
Place of ritual:: Temple, meditation hall.
Theism:: Varies: Theravada is atheistic; Mahayana is more polytheistic.
Ultimate reality:: None. Nothing is permanent.
Human nature:: There is no self or soul. Human existence is nothing more than a combination of five impermanent components (khandas).
Purpose of life:: Theravada - Become an arhat, escape the cycle of rebirth, and attain nirvana. Mahayana - Become a boddhisatva then help others attain enlightenment.
Afterlife:: Rebirth or nirvana. Nirvana is seen simply as the cessation of suffering by some and as a heavenly paradise by others.
Holidays:: Vary by region, but often include Buddha's birthday, Buddha's enlightenment, lunar quarters
Three Jewels/Three Refuges:: 1. The Buddha 2. The sangha (monastic community) 3. The dharma (truth or teachings)
Three Delusions:: 1. Ignorance 2. Desire 3. Anger or hatred
Three Trainings:: 1. Moral discipline 2. Concentration 3. Wisdom
Three Marks of Existence:: 1. Impermanence (anicca) 2. Unsatisfactoriness (dukkha) 3. No-self (anatta)
Four Noble Truths:: 1. All of life is marked by suffering. 2. Suffering is caused by desire and attachment. 3. Suffering can be eliminated. 4. Suffering is eliminated by following the Noble Eightfold Path.
Four Immeasurables or Sublime States:: 1. Equanimity (upekkha) 2. Loving-kindness (metta) 3. Compassion (karuna) 4. Sympathetic joy (mudita)
Four Reminders:: 1. Human life is precious. 2. Death is inevitable. 3. The laws of karma cannot be avoided. 4. Suffering permeates all existence.
Four Bodhisattva Vows:: 1. I vow to rescue the boundless living beings from suffering. 2. I vow to put an end to the infinite afflictions of living beings. 3. I vow to learn the measureless Dharma-doors. 4. I vow to realise the unsurpassed path of the Buddha.
Five Precepts:: 1. Do not kill. 2. Do not steal. 3. Do not engage in sexual misconduct. 4. Do not lie. 5. Do not use intoxicants.
Five Powers:: 1. Faith and confidence 2. Energy and effort 3. Mindfulness 4. Samadhi 5. Wisdom
Five Hindrances:: 1. Sense craving 2. Anger or ill will 3. Sloth and torpor 4. Restlessness and worry 5. Doubt and the inner critic
Five Dhyani (Wisdom) Buddhas:: Vairochana Akshobhya Ratnasambhava> Amoghasiddhi
Six Perfections:: 1. Concentration 2. Effort 3. Ethical behavior 4. Generosity 5. Patience 6. Wisdom
Six Realms of Existence:: 1. Hell-beings 2. Hungry ghosts 3. Animals 4. Humans 5. Anti-gods or demigods 6. Gods
Noble Eightfold Path:: 1. Right beliefs 2. Right aspirations 3. Right speech 4. Right conduct 5. Right livelihood 6. Right effort 7. Right mindfulness 8. Right meditational attainment
Ten Paramita:: 1. Giving or generosity 2. Virtue, ethics, morality 3. Renunciation, letting go, not grasping 4. Wisdom and insight 5. Energy, vigour, vitality, diligence 6. Patience or forbearance 7. Truthfulness 8. Resolution, determination, intention 9. Kindness, love, friendliness 10. Equanimity
Twelve Links of Dependent Arising:: 1. Ignorance 2. Karmic formations 3. Consciousness 4. Name and form 5. Six senses 6. Contact 7. Feeling 8. Craving 9. Grasping 10. Becoming 11. Birth 12. Aging and Death
35 Buddhas of Confession:: Shakyamuni, Vajragarbhapramardin, Ratnarchis, Nageshvararaja, Viresena, Viranandin, Ratnagni, Ratnachandraprabha, Amoghadarshin, Ratnachandra, Vimala, Shuradatta, Brahman, Brahmadatta, Varuna, Varunadeva, Bharadrashri, Chandashri, Anantaujas, Prabhasashri Ashokashri, Narayana, Kusumashri Brahmajyotirvikriditabhijna, Padmamajyotirvikriditabhijna, Dhanashri, Smritishri, Suparikirtitanamashri, Indraketudhvajaraja, Suvikrantashri, Yuddhajaya, Vikrantagamishri, Samantavabhasavyuhashri, Ratnapadmavikramin, Shailendraraja