Key facts  
     
 
 Foundation
 Date Founded  520 BCE  Place Founded  Northeastern Indi
 Founder  Siddharta Gautama
("the Buddha")
 Adherents 360 million
 Major Sects  Theravada, Mahayana, Vajrayana
 Main Locations
 China, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia
 
 
 Sacred Objects, Rituals and Locations
 Sacred texts
 Pali Canon (Tripitaka), numerous Mahayana sutras
 Original language
 Pali
 Spiritual leaders
 Monk (lama in Tibetan Buddhism)
 Place of worship
 Temple, meditation hall.
 Holidays
 Vary by region, but often include Buddha's birthday, Buddha's enlightenment, lunar quarters
 
 
 Fundamental philosophy
 Theism ("god")
 Theravada is atheistic; Mahayana is more polytheistic.
 Ultimate reality
  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.
 How to live
 Saturday (Shabbat/Sabbath)
 Afterlife
 Rebirth or nirvana. Nirvana is seen simply as the cessation of suffering by some and as a heavenly paradise by others.
 Cosmology
 
 
 
 Laws and commandments
 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
 
 
 Foundation
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     


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Key Facts