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| | '''Buddhism''' is a [[meditation]] belief system whose followers seek liberation from suffering through adherence to the teachings of the Buddha [[Siddhartha Gautama]]. Through meditation and self-denial, the mind and body of a Buddhist are trained to overcome the craving for worldly things. | | '''Buddhism''' is a [[meditation]] belief system whose followers seek liberation from suffering through adherence to the teachings of the Buddha [[Siddhartha Gautama]]. Through meditation and self-denial, the mind and body of a Buddhist are trained to overcome the craving for worldly things. |
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| − | According to Stanford University's Introduction to Buddhism web page, "According to Buddhist belief, [[Enlightened One|enlightenment]] is the experience of true reality, an “awakening” through which one could comprehend the true nature of things."<ref>[https://spice.fsi.stanford.edu/docs/introduction_to_buddhism#:~:text=According%20to%20Buddhist%20belief%2C%20enlightenment,the%20true%20nature%20of%20things.&text=Shakyamuni%20thought%20he%20could%20reach,a%20lifestyle%20of%20severe%20discipline. Introduction to Buddhism], Stanford University</ref>
| + | As explained by [[Stanford University]]'s Introduction to Buddhism web page, "According to Buddhist belief, [[Enlightened One|enlightenment]] is the experience of true reality, an “awakening” through which one could comprehend the true nature of things."<ref>[https://spice.fsi.stanford.edu/docs/introduction_to_buddhism#:~:text=According%20to%20Buddhist%20belief%2C%20enlightenment,the%20true%20nature%20of%20things.&text=Shakyamuni%20thought%20he%20could%20reach,a%20lifestyle%20of%20severe%20discipline. Introduction to Buddhism], Stanford University</ref> |
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| | To Buddhists, sentient beings are trapped in an eternal cycle of death and rebirth (''samsara''), characterized by continual dissatisfaction or suffering (''dukkha''). Buddhism provides a practical set of teachings (the ''dharma'') designed to help sentient beings achieve a state of freedom from dukkha. Buddhism teaches that individuals reincarnate involuntarily and repeatedly in the world of samsara, a cyclic process which ends for an individual when they attain Nirvana (Theravada) or Enlightenment (Mahayana), either in a human body or immediately upon death in their last involuntary cycle of samsara. Mahayana Buddhism holds, in addition, that the goal of Enlightenment is not merely release from one's own personal suffering in samsara, but also the release of all sentient beings, toward which an enlightened being or ''Buddha'' is, by nature, committed to work through compassionate action. To this end, a Buddha may voluntarily reincarnate to help release all sentient beings from samsara. | | To Buddhists, sentient beings are trapped in an eternal cycle of death and rebirth (''samsara''), characterized by continual dissatisfaction or suffering (''dukkha''). Buddhism provides a practical set of teachings (the ''dharma'') designed to help sentient beings achieve a state of freedom from dukkha. Buddhism teaches that individuals reincarnate involuntarily and repeatedly in the world of samsara, a cyclic process which ends for an individual when they attain Nirvana (Theravada) or Enlightenment (Mahayana), either in a human body or immediately upon death in their last involuntary cycle of samsara. Mahayana Buddhism holds, in addition, that the goal of Enlightenment is not merely release from one's own personal suffering in samsara, but also the release of all sentient beings, toward which an enlightened being or ''Buddha'' is, by nature, committed to work through compassionate action. To this end, a Buddha may voluntarily reincarnate to help release all sentient beings from samsara. |
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| | <nowiki>*</nowiki> [[China]]: Is the country with the most Buddhists, with an estimated 100 million adherents. | | <nowiki>*</nowiki> [[China]]: Is the country with the most Buddhists, with an estimated 100 million adherents. |
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| − | <nowiki>*</nowiki> Tibet is an estimate, as there has never been a reliable survey. Furthermore, for the [[Chinese]] [[Communist]]s it is debatable whether Tibet should be considered an independent nation. | + | <nowiki>*</nowiki> Tibet is an estimate, as there has never been a reliable survey. Furthermore, for the [[Chinese]] [[Communist]]s, it is debatable whether Tibet should be considered an independent nation. |
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| − | <nowiki>**</nowiki> [[Japan]] is a "odd" case, as surveys of adherence are conducted rather differently. Firstly, it is debatable at what point various Japanese beliefs shift from being traditions to being religions. This is indicated by the fact that "85% of Japanese claim Buddhism as their preferred religion", yet "75% percent claim to practice and believe in no religion"—a more accurate estimate may be 20%.<ref>[http://www.adherents.com/largecom/com_buddhist.html The Largest Buddhist Communities]</ref> | + | <nowiki>**</nowiki> [[Japan]] is an "odd" case, as surveys of adherence are conducted rather differently. Firstly, it is debatable at what point various Japanese beliefs shift from being traditions to being religions. This is indicated by the fact that "85% of Japanese claim Buddhism as their preferred religion", yet "75% percent claim to practice and believe in no religion"—a more accurate estimate may be 20%.<ref>[http://www.adherents.com/largecom/com_buddhist.html The Largest Buddhist Communities]</ref> |
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| | [[Image:Obon.jpg|thumb|Obon remains one of the most important Buddhist observances]] | | [[Image:Obon.jpg|thumb|Obon remains one of the most important Buddhist observances]] |
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| | ==Buddhism and abortion== | | ==Buddhism and abortion== |
| − | Buddhists believe that causing death is morally wrong. Traditional Buddhists oppose abortion because it involves the deliberate destruction of a life. Numerous Buddhist [[Sutra]] [[scripture]]s, such as the ''Shurangama Sutra'', assert that [[life]] begins at [[conception]] and that is when the "[[soul]]" ("vijnana") enters the body of the [[fetus]].<ref>https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/buddhism/buddhistethics/abortion.shtml</ref> | + | Buddhists believe that causing death is morally wrong. Traditional Buddhists oppose [[abortion]] because it involves the deliberate destruction of a life. Numerous Buddhist [[Sutra]] [[scripture]]s, such as the ''Shurangama Sutra'', assert that [[life]] begins at [[conception]] and that is when the "[[soul]]" ("vijnana") enters the body of the [[fetus]].<ref>https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/buddhism/buddhistethics/abortion.shtml</ref> |
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| | == Conservative Christianity view of Buddhism == | | == Conservative Christianity view of Buddhism == |