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Religious Tolerance
World religions · Buddhism

Buddhism

An educational introduction to the teachings associated with Siddhartha Gautama, the development of Buddhist communities, and the diverse traditions practiced across Asia and around the world.

Explore the reading guideCore Buddhist beliefs
Quiet mountain landscape at sunriseMany schools.
Shared roots.
Background

A living family of traditions

Buddhism developed in South Asia around teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha. Traditional accounts place his life in the first millennium BCE. Buddhist teachings later traveled through trade, migration, scholarship and monastic networks into Central, East and Southeast Asia and, in more recent periods, to communities worldwide.

There is no single Buddhist authority or universally identical form of practice. Communities differ in scripture, ritual, monastic organization and their understanding of the path. Many nevertheless share attention to suffering and its causes, ethical conduct, mental cultivation, wisdom and liberation.

Modern population estimates vary because censuses use different definitions and many people combine Buddhist practice with local, ancestral or other religious traditions. For that reason, this guide emphasizes history and ideas rather than presenting older percentages as current facts.

Foundational themes

Ideas readers will encounter

Terminology and interpretation differ among schools. These themes provide orientation rather than a creed binding every Buddhist.

Suffering and unease

Buddhist teachings examine dissatisfaction, instability and the ways attachment can sustain distress.

The path

Ethical conduct, mental discipline and wisdom are commonly presented as mutually supporting areas of practice.

Change

Impermanence is a recurring theme: conditioned things arise, change and pass away.

Compassion

Many traditions emphasize non-harm, compassion and concern for the well-being of sentient beings.

A peaceful path through green bamboo
Schools and communities

Major Buddhist traditions

Buddhist traditions developed in many languages and cultural settings. Broad labels are useful for orientation, but they do not capture every lineage or local practice.

Theravada Buddhism

A tradition with longstanding communities in Sri Lanka and mainland Southeast Asia.

Mahayana Buddhism

A broad family of traditions influential across East and parts of Southeast Asia.

Vajrayana Buddhism

Traditions using distinctive ritual, contemplative and symbolic methods, especially associated with Himalayan and Inner Asian settings.

Chan and Zen Buddhism

Related schools known for disciplined meditation practice and direct attention to experience.

Religion and society

Ethics, identity and public life

These Essays consider how Buddhist teachings and institutions interact with complex social questions.

Buddhism and violence

A historical discussion of the gap that can arise between teachings of non-harm and the actions of institutions or states.

Read the Essay →

Buddhism and sexual orientation

A respectful overview of differing interpretations across Buddhist schools and communities.

Explore the topic →
Further reading

Books named in the archive

This is an educational bibliography, not a sales or ratings list. Availability and editions may change.

Buddhism for Beginners

Thubten Chodron. An introductory presentation organized around common questions about Buddhist thought and practice.

Mindfulness in Plain English

Bhante Henepola Gunaratana. A practical introduction to meditation from a Theravada perspective.

Buddhism Plain and Simple

Steve Hagen. An accessible discussion emphasizing awareness and direct experience.

The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching

Thich Nhat Hanh. An introduction to central teachings from a Vietnamese Zen perspective.

How to Practice

The Dalai Lama. Reflections on ethics, compassion and cultivating a meaningful life.

Reader guide

Frequently asked questions

Is Buddhism a religion or a philosophy?

It can reasonably be studied as either or both. Buddhist communities include doctrines, rituals, institutions and sacred texts associated with religion, while Buddhist thought also supports sustained philosophical and ethical inquiry. The Essay explores this question further.

Do all Buddhists believe exactly the same things?

No. Schools differ in their scriptures, practices, ritual forms and explanations of awakening. Broad shared themes do not erase those differences.

Does Buddhism teach belief in a creator deity?

A creator deity is not central to classical Buddhist explanations of suffering and liberation. Buddhist cosmologies may include many kinds of beings, but schools interpret them in varied ways.

What are the main branches of Buddhism?

Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana are common high-level groupings. Each contains distinct schools, lineages and regional traditions.

Is meditation the whole of Buddhist practice?

No. Meditation is important in many communities, but Buddhist life may also include ethical commitments, study, chanting, ritual, generosity, pilgrimage and communal observance.

How should population figures be understood?

With caution. National censuses and surveys define religious identity differently, while some people participate in more than one tradition. Figures are therefore estimates rather than a complete picture of practice.

Where can I compare Buddhism with other religions?

Begin with the essays comparing Buddhism with Christianity and Hinduism, or visit the broader belief comparison section.