| Most people have a belief that there is something | | | | enlightenment with the rest of the world. The answer |
| waiting for them in the afterlife, if they lead a good life. | | | | to him was that material possessions caused people |
| It is a hope that there is something beyond death, a | | | | to suffer. |
| place that is a reward for a lifetime of good deeds | | | | There was no point in holding onto material goods |
| and being mindful of the rules of that religion. | | | | when in the end they decayed and you could not take |
| In most religions, there is also a messenger that holds | | | | them with you. The way to end this suffering and to |
| the key to eternity and peace. This messenger for | | | | finally find the universal knowledge was through |
| Christians is Jesus Christ, for Muslims it is Muhammad | | | | Buddhist meditation and chants. |
| and for Buddhists it is Buddha. If you are unfamiliar with | | | | Many things have changed since Siddhartha became |
| the history of Buddhism, then it is time you become | | | | the Buddha and began to spread his word. Since that |
| acquainted with this religion. | | | | time many of his mantras, or teachings, have been |
| The history of Buddhism started a very long time ago. | | | | taken in different directions by various sects, such as |
| It all begins with a prince named Siddhartha who | | | | those practiced by the Zen Buddhist, the Tibetan |
| decided to do something about the pain and suffering | | | | Buddhist and the Buddhism Nichiren, which were |
| he saw in his fellow man. Siddhartha was given the | | | | founded after Buddha's death. Different monks chose |
| Four Sights. He observed an elderly man, a diseased | | | | different mantras to teach Buddha's followers. Just as |
| man, a corpse and a holy man. These encounters | | | | Christianity has many different offshoots, so does |
| showed him the extent of human suffering. His goal | | | | Buddhism. |
| was to try to eradicate these needless, painful | | | | There is obviously quite a lot more to the history of |
| experiences. | | | | Buddhism than just what is written here. It is an entire |
| The Buddhist studies teach that Siddhartha went on a | | | | lifestyle devoted to reaching a goal of enlightenment. |
| meditation retreat that lasted for forty-nine days. | | | | There are different chants to use while meditating, as |
| During this time he meditated on how human suffering | | | | well as different postures to assume. Is it complicated |
| was affecting him and everyone else. When he | | | | to learn? It is not anymore complicated than it is to |
| emerged from this meditation retreat he shared his | | | | follow Christianity or Catholicism. |