Definition
Buddhism is a religion and philosophical tradition founded in northern India around the fifth century BCE by Siddhartha Gautama, known as the Buddha, or awakened one. It teaches that life inevitably involves suffering, that suffering arises from craving and attachment, and that a disciplined path can bring it to an end.
That path is summarized in the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, which combine ethical conduct, mental discipline, and the cultivation of wisdom. The goal is liberation from the cycle of rebirth, a state called nirvana.
Why it matters
How it works
A religion spreads when its message addresses a widely felt need and can adapt to new cultures. Buddhism's diagnosis of suffering and its practical program of ethical and mental training appealed across class lines. As it moved along the Silk Road and maritime routes, it absorbed local customs and split into distinct branches, such as Theravada and Mahayana. Monasteries served as centers of learning and copying of texts, anchoring the tradition wherever it took root.