Buddhism Religion

If you have ever met a Buddhist you may have discussed their religion with them. Buddhists live stern lives that help them gain enlightenment, their main goal of life. Buddhism is a very interesting religion because of the fact that it is so unique and different from any other religion. It is alluring to Buddhists even though it is pretty simplistic and the culture within Buddhism is attention capturing and eye grabbing. Buddhism started about two thousand five hundred years ago in India and was created by a man named Siddhartha Gautama (Ganeri 12). Gautama was born in the fifth century B.C.E., in Nepal India, which is now Lumbini. He was born an Indian prince (Penney 8). It is believed that when Gautama was born, a wise man had said that

There were many monks that lived at the monastery and now there are less than a hundred that live at the monastery (Ganeri 21). There is a monastery that is just outside of New York, called the Chuang Yen Monastery (Penney 27). Buddhists generally live their lives based on the Buddha’s teachings. Meditation is a very important part of being a Buddhist. It helps to train their minds of ordinary thoughts and to rise above bringing them closer to enlightenment (Ganeri 22). Buddhists will worship in groups or alone by sitting on the floor, legs crossed, and minds released of all thoughts. This usually takes place in front of a shrine or temple (Penney 22). Some Buddhists will often worship at home on their own or attend a meditation in a group (Ganeri 24). When they worship, they may take items such as candles, flowers or incense to place on the shrine as an offering (Ganeri 26). Buddhists believe that life is constantly changing from beginning to end. People experience the beginning and end of ideas, moods, and conditions within themselves and therefore accept the natural process of death as a result of being born. However, Buddhists believe that enlightenment can still be obtained even at the last moment of life (Hewitt