Buddhism "Buddhism" is a word used to denote the teachings of the "Buddha", or "enlightened one". Guatama Buddha lived in the 6th century B.C., and set forth the teaching called the Middle Way, a path to escape suffering. This was a path in life between extreme asceticism and luxury. In other words, Buddhism is for people who believe that Guatama Buddha discovered the true way to escape pain and suffering. Below are some of the fundamentals of Buddhism. Buddhism: How Did We Get Here? The cosmos has no known beginning or end. Rather, it goes through cycles. We found ourselves on this earth through a process of cause and effect. Back | Top | Next Spiritual Path   Buddhism: What is the Purpose of Life? The purpose of life, put simply, is to escape suffering and reach Nirvana. Nirvana literally means "blowing out", and can be vaguely understood as a permanent state of nothingness. Nirvana can only be reached after a person has escaped from continual reincarnation, by following the Noble Eightfold Path: Right Belief Right Attitude Right Speech Right Bodily Action Right Livelihood Right Effort Right Self-awareness Right Meditation Once a person has escaped the cycle of reincarnation, he has escaped suffering, and has reached Nirvana. The purpose of his "existence" is fulfilled. Back | Top | Next Spiritual Path   Buddhism: Who/What is God? Contrary to popular understanding, there is no god in the teachings of Buddhism. Guatama Buddha never claimed to be god, nor did he claim to have any special revelation from god. Back | Top | Next Spiritual Path   Buddhism: Who Are Humans? According to the teachings of Buddha, humans, as with all creatures, are fictions; they are non-existent. A person has no "self", and so the word "myself" has no meaning. Instead, humans are a series of cause and effect occurrences, which only appear to be complete persons. Back | Top | Next Spiritual Path   Buddhism: What is Sin? Sin, in Buddhism, is the belief that the world and the self truly exist. According to Buddhism, they do not exist. It is this ignorance which keeps the eternal cycle of suffering and the cosmos moving. Back | Top | Next Spiritual Path   Buddhism: How Do You Explain Pain and Suffering? Pain and suffering are the result of believing that the world and the self exist. In particular, they result from craving for things. The only way to escape suffering is to recognize the Four Noble Truths, and to follow the Eightfold Path. The Four Noble Truths are as follows: Life is suffering That suffering comes from craving for things The suffering will stop when the craving stops The way to stop craving is to follow the Noble Eightfold Path Back | Top | Next Spiritual Path   Buddhism: Has God Communicated with Us? How? No. There is no god to communicate.. Back | Top | Next Spiritual Path   Buddhism: How Do You Find God? Again, this question has no meaning. There is no god to find. Back | Top | Next Spiritual Path   Buddhism: What Happens When You Die? You will be reincarnated as some creature, not necessarily in a "better" state than at present. Then, you will eventually die again. Then, you will die again. This will continue for an unknown time, until if possible, you reach Nirvana. Back | Top | Next Spiritual Path