Buddhism: A Nontheistic Religion

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Buddhism is a nontheistic religion and philosophy. It is the 4th largest religion in the world, with around 375 million followers. Buddhism began when the Buddha shared his teachings and beliefs around 2,500 years ago. Since then, people all around the world have followed his teachings to achieve “enlightenment”, or “waking up”. Overall, Buddhism is a very complex religion consisting of many beliefs, practices, and traditions that have very well influenced many successful civilizations and prominent cultural achievements. Although it is argued whether Buddhism is actually a religion or philosophy, it is quite clear that it is a very important factor in history and has influenced hundreds of millions of individuals across the globe. …show more content…
One of those beliefs is reincarnation, or the belief that one’s soul can be reborn into a new body after life. Nirvana is a state of perfect peace and happiness and is the highest state one can attain after their many lives. The Four Noble Truths are the bases of the Buddhist faith. They encompass the essence of the Buddha’s teachings. They are: Dukkha - Suffering does exist, Samudaya - There is a cause for suffering, Nirodha - There is an end to suffering, and Magga - In order to end suffering, you must follow the Eightfold Path. The Eightfold Path consists of right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right concentration, and right …show more content…
It is considered a training in the art of daily life. You could practice everyday – throughout the day. Again, Buddhism is also a philosophy so it can very well influence how you think and act. Many believe it affects the way you work with your own mental and emotional states, the way you relate to others, the way you think, or even the way you shop and the food you eat. As mentioned, Buddhism consists of guides such as the Eightfold Path you must follow to achieve enlightenment. Those guides and beliefs could really influence how you live your life. Along with beliefs, Buddhist practices can also affect the way you live. Those practices could be part of your everyday life. In general, almost every aspect of Buddhism influences your daily life as it is not only a religion, but also a

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