| Buddhism is the fourth largest religion
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| | Vehicle:
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| in the world, being exceeded in numbers
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| | Hinayana is practiced in Sri Lanka,
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| only by Christianity, Islam and Hinduism.
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| | Burma, Thailand, Cambodia and Laos. The
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| It was founded in Northern India by the
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| | Lesser Vehicle Buddhism is based on the
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| first known Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama.
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| | teaching of the Vinaya Pitaka. Vinaya
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| In 535 BCE, he attained enlightenment and
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| | Pitaka thought that Buddha was a man, a
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| assumed the title Lord Buddha (one who
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| | very special man, a very special person
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| has awakened). Siddhartha Gautama was
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| | but nevertheless human.
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| born in Lumbini, now part of Nepal.
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| | The Theravada believes that there is no
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| Top 10 countries with the highest percent
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| | reality corresponding to the concept of
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| of Buddhists.
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| | God that we can rely on for salvation.
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| Rank Country % Buddhist
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| | Mahayana - the Greater Vehicle
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| Population
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| | Mahayan accommodated and change it's
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| 1 Thailand 94% 61,517,708
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| | religious beliefs and practices to the
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| 2 Cambodia 93% 12,654,574
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| | religious expectations and ideas of
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| 3 Mongolia 93% 2,595,882
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| | people. The Mahayanas interpreted and
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| 4 Myanmar 90% 38,618,517
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| | transformed the Buddha and his teachings
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| 5 Bhutan 74% 1,651,895
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| | into divine being of personal nature and
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| 6 Japan 71% 90,466,243
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| | transcendence.
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| 7 Sri Lanka 70% 14,045,343
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| | Mahayanas believes that people can
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| 8 Laos 60% 3,730,284
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| | achieve Buddha hood based on their
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| 9 Vietnam 50% 41,767,788
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| | ethics, enlightenment and compassion and
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| 10 Singapore 43% 1,880,931
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| | one may become a Bodhisattva, a saviour,
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| There are basically two type of Buddhism:
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| | who helps others.
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| There are many different variations which
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| | There are four variants of Mahayana
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| have developed with little conflict. This
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| | Buddhism:
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| has been because at its core is a
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| | 1. Tibetan Buddhism
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| philosophical system to which such
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| | 2. Zen Buddhism
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| additions can be easily grafted.
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| | 3. Pure Land Buddhism
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| The main branches:
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| | 4.
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| Theravada or Hinayana - the Lesser
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