Buddhism is a religion that is widely practiced all across Asia. It is a very personal religion full of meditation and thought. Buddhist temples with giant statues of the the Buddha can be seen from Korea to Tibet, and people go there often to give tribute, pray, and meditate. Buddhism is often misunderstood in western culture because it is so different from mainstream Christian beliefs. Many people do not know that there are three main forms of Buddhism, and each practices and believes in a slightly different path to achieving a oneness with the universe and with God.
Most Buddhists believe in the 4 Noble Truths, which state that suffering exists, that suffering is caused by attachments and desires, that when we cease to be attached to things, suffering can cease, and finally that suffering can be stopped if we follow the Eightfold Path. The Eightfold Path consists of eight aspects of life that must be “right” in order to become more spiritual. When followed, the 4 Noble Truths help to achieve release from this life, so one can exist on a higher level. Even for those of us who do not believe in Buddhism, decreasing our attachments to materials things of this world can help us see things more clearly, and become more spiritual people.
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