| Buddhism is a religion and philosophy with a wide | | | | enlightenment. Although meditation is the most |
| variety of traditions, beliefs and practices which are | | | | important part of the practice, the addition of other |
| largely based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, | | | | techniques can help achieve this goal. |
| commonly known as the Buddha (Pali / Sanskrit "The | | | | Buddhism is a religion based on the teachings of the |
| Awakening"). | | | | Buddha, known as "Dharma". Those who practice |
| Two main branches of Buddhism are recognized: | | | | Buddhism are in a spiritual search to achieve a state of |
| Theravada ("The School of the Elders") and | | | | complete enlightenment known as nirvana. |
| Mahayana ("Greater") vehicle. | | | | This religion focused on the teachings of the Buddha, |
| Theravada, the older branch, has a widespread | | | | by supporting the Sangha (the trailer) to meditation as |
| following in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia. Mahayana | | | | a means to train the mind to eliminate suffering and to |
| has a large following across east Asia and | | | | attain nirvana. |
| encompasses the traditions of the Pure Land, Zen, | | | | Theravada Buddhism was the Tripitaka, the Pali canon |
| Nichiren Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism, Shingon, Tendai | | | | of Buddhist teachings, and Ten Commandments that |
| and Shinnyo-en. While Buddhism is the most popular in | | | | govern the lives of Buddhist monks. |
| Asia, the two branches have now spread across the | | | | Practiced mainly in China, Korea and Japan, Mahayana |
| entire world. | | | | Buddhism includes elements of mysticism and |
| The basic practices of Buddhism are geared toward | | | | cosmology. Mahayana Buddhism is fragmented into |
| meditation. But Zen Buddhist practices extend beyond. | | | | two variants. Zen Buddhism, which focuses more on |
| Rinzai and Soto are two of the seven great Zen | | | | the internalization of the spiritual journey and |
| Buddhists in Japan with Soto being the most common | | | | self-confidence and the Pure Land, which teaches the |
| one of the two. In fact, the word "Zen", comes from | | | | devotion to the Buddha Amitabha is needed to reach |
| the Sanskrit word for meditation. All can be | | | | nirvana. |
| transformed into "zazen" which is the name of a Zen | | | | Although strongly influenced by Mahayana Buddhism, |
| Buddhist meditation technique. Regular daily practice is | | | | Tibetan Buddhism or Vajrayana constitutes another |
| of paramount importance. | | | | significant discipline of the Buddhist faith. Also Tantric |
| Buddhists from Monaco spend a lot of time meditating. | | | | Buddhism known Vajrayana contains both text and |
| Meditation on the koan is mainly used by the branch of | | | | writing including Theraveda Mahayana Buddhism and |
| the Rinzai Zen. All practitioners of Zen Buddhism seek | | | | Buddhist tantra. |