Who is Buddha?

• Buddha is not a god, nor did he claim to be. He was a human.
• Born as Siddhartha, in 563 BC. (Lumbini-now Nepal), was the son of a ruling king of India.
• At the age of 29, he got bored of the indulgences of a royal life and renounced his title as a prince in search of the eternal peace – end of all suffering.
• At the age of 35, he was awakened, and thereafter, was known as Buddha.
• Buddha spent his life (he died at 80) journeying and teaching what he had come to understand.

What is Buddhism?

• Buddhism is a religion, rightfully a philosophy – a way of life
• Followed by about 300 million people around the world.
• It is based on two main teaching Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path
• There are other Buddhist notions that is essential to understand Buddhism as a whole religion:
  • Triple gem & Six realms
  • Eternal peace (Nirvana),
  • Rebirth & deeds (Karma),
  • Elements of life (Skandhas)

Schools of Buddhism

There are many offshoots of Buddhism, depending on practicing countries’ customs and cultures. However, the essence of the teaching does not change- Dhamma

• Theravada Buddhism
• Mahayana Buddhism
• Tibetan Buddhism
• Modern Buddhism

What is triple gem?

Very loosely it is similar to the Holy-trinity.  Yet, the concepts are different, as the triple gem goes beyond being mere beliefs. They are actual existences that encapsulate Buddhism as a whole.

• The Buddha — The self awakened
• The Dhamma — The Teaching.
• The Sangha — Monks & Nuns.

The Goal of a Buddhist

Goals could be taken as two main streams. 

• Lead a moral, mindful, and wise secular life.
• The ultimate goal is to attain Nirvana- which means cessation. It is the cessation of passion, aggression and ignorance; the cessation of the struggle to prove our existence to the world, to survive.

Buddhists' Core beliefs

• In Theravada Buddhism, they do not believe in gods or icons.
• A savior does not grant salvation to a Buddhist, instead salvation is achieved through an individual’s own good deeds.
• Reincarnation is a fact in Buddhism, an individual could be reincarnated in one of the six-realms.