Buddhism

Buddhism is sometimes depicted as a religion and sometimes as a way of life, both by those who adhere to it and those outside the tradition. It is based around the teachings of the Buddha Siddhārtha Gautama, who according to tradition, lived between 563 and 483 BCE in India.

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Buddhism in the UK
How many? 152,000 people identified as Buddhist in the 2001 census for England and Wales.

See ‘Global Buddhism for an in-depth analysis of this figure and some contemporary issues regarding British Buddhism.

How many Charities? There are currently 246 Buddhist charities registered in England and Wales, according to the Charities Commission.

History of Buddhism in the UK
The early history of Buddhism in the UK tends to focus on academic engagement with Buddhism, and on individuals rather than communities. Academic engagement facilitated the first translation of Buddhist texts into English in the 19th century.  It was not until 1907 that the first Buddhist organisation was formed: the Buddhist Society of Great Britain and Ireland. In 1924 this became the London Buddhist Society, and provided an early broad-based platform for Buddhism in the UK.

The Chinese invasion of Tibet in 1950 led to a significant number of Buddhists moving to the West, including Britain. Immigration from commonwealth countries such as Burma, Hong Kong, Thailand, Sri Lanka and India has also increased the number of Buddhists in the UK. Buddhism continues to be a growing religion in the UK, partly through conversion.The three largest Buddhist groups in Britain today are the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order (FWBO), Soka Gakki (SGI) and the New Kadampa Tradition (NKT). Such neo-Buddhist movements probably involve no more that a quarter of British Buddhists. More on Buddhism in Britain.

Key Beliefs and Practices
The Four Noble Truths
A more precise rendering is the ‘four truths for the spiritually noble’. For Buddhists these are principles or truths which only people of a certain spiritual maturity can fully comprehend.

1. Duhkha – Suffering or ‘unsatisfaction’ – the Buddha identified suffering within birth, aging, sickness, death, being separated from pleasant feelings or experiencing unpleasant activities, and individuals not getting what they desire
2. Samudaya – The cause of suffering – individual’s cravings to material things. This craving manifests in behaviour which leads to suffering/unsatisfaction. As such this will then lead to a rebirth which is unsatisfying.
3. Niroda – When suffering ends – If a person overcomes their cravings and suffering then they are enlightened and enter a state of being called nirvana.
4. Marga – the act of following the ‘Noble Eightfold Path’. This is a way of life and a means of escaping the endless round of suffering

The Eightfold path/the middle way
The Fourth part of the four noble truths is the Eightfold Path which Buddhists see as the means to overcome suffering
Panna: wisdom
1) Samma ditthi Right Understanding which comes from familiarity with the teachings of the Buddha
2) Samma sankappa: Right intention; following the right path in life due to a changed motivation
Sila: morality
3) Samma vaca: Right speech: From tight understanding and intention Buddhists claim right speech is created. This will means speech will not harm others and ranges from not lying, to not gossiping and not verbally abusing someone
4) Samma kammanta: Right action based on the Five Precepts of Buddhism
5) Samma ajiva: Right livelihood; support yourself without harming others
Samadhi: meditation
6) Samma vayama: Right Effort: promote good thoughts; conquer evil thoughts
7) Samma sati: Right Mindfulness: Become aware of your body, mind and feelings
8) Samma Samadhi: Right Concentration: Through the act of meditation

Bodhi is the final enlightenment, when an individual reaches a state of spiritual perfection.

Nirvana literally means ‘blowing out’ or ‘becoming extinguished’, and refers to the ending of desire, and ultimately suffering and rebirth. It is not a place like heaven, rather it is a state of being.

The Five Precepts are basic principles which inform Buddhists’ daily conduct. Ordained Buddhists take additional vows, but these five principles are the basis for a lay Buddhist’s life. The precepts are the basis of Right Action in the Eightfold path.

Buddhists must refrain from:
• hurting living beings
• taking what is not given;
• sexual misconduct and misuse of the senses
• harmful language/interactions
• the use of stimulants which can alter the mind.

Meditation is widely practised throughout the various traditions of Buddhism. There are two main forms:
1) shamatha/samatha: meditation to bring tranquillity
2) vipashyana/vipassana: meditation to give insight or knowledge

Vegetarianism. Buddhism has a variety of views on vegetarianism. Intentional killing is not allowed, however not all traditions forbid the consumption of meat.

Main Traditions
Theravada In English means ‘The Way of the Elders’, and is associated particularly with Sri Lanka, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Burma and the southern part of Vietnam. Theravada Buddhism focuses upon the historical Buddha and his teachings in the Pali canon. Though Theravadins acknowledge the existence of other Buddhas (enlightened beings), they do not treat them with the same respect as the Buddha. For Theravada Buddhists the goal is to reach enlightenment through individual effort. When a person achieves liberation they are called a saint or ‘arahat’. Theravadins do not consider it possible to attain enlightenment outside a monastic context.

Mahayana The Mahayana (‘Great Vehicle’) tradition is found in Central Asia, China, Tibet, Korea, Japan and the northern part of Vietnam. Mahayana is distinct from the Theravada tradition in several ways. Most Mahayana schools view the Buddha as a manifestation of a divine being, and not a human who has reached enlightenment. Mahayana Buddhists believe that many Buddhas are present in different existences. There is a universalistic tendency within Mahayana Buddhism, which suggests that all living beings can one day reach enlightenment. In the Mahayana tradition there are a number of canons of scripture including the Agama, the Chinese Canon and the Tibetan canon. The varied schools within Mahayana Buddhism reflect either different cultural influences or the role of particular texts or sutras.

Important Texts
The Pali Canon. Also known as the Tipitaka or the Three Baskets. The Pali canon contains some of the earliest material attributed to the Buddha and his disciples. It is generally accepted amongst all Buddhist traditions.

The Mahayana Canon. A collection of a wide range of texts written in several languages.

Some key scriptures online.

Festivals
Buddha Day (Wesak) celebrates the birth of the Buddha and, for some Buddhists, his death.
Dharma Day celebrates the start of the Buddha’s teaching after he became enlightened. Also a time to remember the works and influence of other good teachers. 
Sangha Day sometimes known as Fourfold Assembly or ‘Magha Puja Day’, it celebrates the disciples who became enlightened whist following the Buddha – and a time to celebrate Buddhist practitioners who are alive today.

Material culture
Buddharupa – shrines which are found within the home. They usually contain incense holders and are decorated with flowers and candles.
Temples – the designs of Buddhist temples vary by tradition and geographical location. All temples have an image of the Buddha, and are designed to symbolise the five elements of Fire, Air, Earth, Water, Wisdom.
Stupa and Pagoda – dome-shaped stone buildings which originated in India. Built over relics related to the Buddha or enlightened beings. An example of a pagoda in Battersea Park, London.

Key Individuals
The Buddha Born in approximately 560 B.C. in northern India, Gautama is said to be the son of the ruler of an area now located in Nepal. Buddhist tradition asserts that Gautama was sheltered by his father from ever experiencing the problems of life and suffering. Despite his fathers’ best efforts to shield his son form the outside world, at the age of twenty nine he became curious of the outside world and the problems found within it. Open entering the world he saw four things: an old man, a sick man, a corpse, and a beggar. Gautama vowed to leave his palace and seek an answer to human suffering. This lasted for six years, and he studied under important religious teachers, and engaged in an aesthetic lifestyle, but remained unsatisfied. The Buddha eventually found enlightenment – as tradition has it, whilst meditating under the Bo Tree (a fig tree) in a part of Northern India which now called Bodh Gaya.  This marked the start of his public ministry.

General Introductions
Gethin, R. (1998) The Foundations of Buddhism, Oxford University Press.
Harvey, P. (1990) An Introduction to Buddhism: Teachings, History and Practices, Cambridge University Press.
Keown, D (2000) Buddhism: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford Paperbacks.

A comparison of the two main traditions.

Further schools and subdivisions within Buddhism – including Zen, Pure Land, and Tibetan Buddhism.

These pages have been prepared by Jordan Tchilingirian. Please send any comments, corrections or suggestions to him at