Buddhism is a spiritual tradition that focuses on the spiritual development of the individual towards attaining a deep insight into the true essence of life. The aim of Buddhists is to reach a state of nirvana, following the path of the Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama who they believe attained enlightenment on his journeys around 600BCE.      
   The path to Enlightenment can be found through the practice and development of morality, meditation and wisdom.
Buddhists believe that life is both endless and not permanent. Existence is endless because individuals are reincarnated over and over again, experiencing suffering throughout many lives.
Schools of Buddhism
    There are many different schools or sects of Buddhism. The two largest are Theravada Buddhism, which is most popular in Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos and Burma (Myanmar), and Mahayana Buddhism, which is strongest in Tibet, China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, and Mongolia.
    The majority of Buddhist sects do not have any obligations to preach and convert others.
  • Buddhism is around 2,500 years old
  • There are about 375 million followers worldwide, but mostly in East Asia.
  • Buddhism arose as a result of Siddhartha Gautama's quest for Enlightenment in around the 6th Century BCE
  • There is no belief in a personal God and It is not based on any relationship between humanity and God
  • Buddhists believe that nothing is fixed or permanent - change is always possible
  • The two main Buddhist sects are Theravada Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism.
  • Buddhists can worship both at home or at a temple