India

Most historians agree that Buddhism originated in northern India in the 5th century B.C.E. The tradition traces its origin to Siddhartha Gautama (or Gotama), who is typically referred to as the Buddha (literally the "Awakened" or "Enlightened One"). Siddhartha observed the suffering in the world and set out to find an antidote. Through meditation and analysis, he attained an enlightened state of being that marked the end of attachments (and therefore suffering), and ultimately, upon his death, release from the cycle of rebirth (samsara).

 A man named Siddharta Gautama is

considered the founder of the Buddhist tradition. He was called the Buddha by his followers that mean the awakened one. The Buddhist tradition is named after that title. We know, we think we know, that he was born in the family of king Suddhodana and queen Maya about the year 563 BCE, in a region of the Indian subcontinent that now lies in Southern Nepal.

 He was a member of the Shakya tribe, his clan name was Gautama and his given name was Siddhartha, which means something like mission accomplished. It has been common in the Buddhist world to refer to him as Shakyamuni, the sage of Shakya tribe.

 Long ago, Buddhism began to spread southwards from its place of origin in northern India to Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Indo-China and other South East Asian countries. It also moved northwards into the Himalayan kingdoms (Sikkim, Bhutan, Nepal), Tibet, Mongolia and other parts of Central Asia, and also into China, Korea and Japan.

 The eight-spoked Dharmacakra. The eight spokes represent the Noble Eightfold Path of Buddhism, which is one of the principal teachings of the Buddha, who described it as the way leading to the cessation of suffering (dukkha) and the achievement of selfawakening.

 The sacred book of Buddhism is called the Tipitaka. It is written in an ancient Indian language called Pali which is very close to the language that the Buddha himself spoke. The Tripitaka is a very large book. The English translation of it takes up nearly forty volumes.

Buddhism incorporates a variety of rituals and practices, which are intended to aid in the journey to enlightenment and bring blessings on oneself and others. The practice of meditation is central to nearly all forms of Buddhism, and it derives directly from the Buddhas experiences and teachings. Meditation is is the central focus of Zen Buddhism and the only way to liberation in Theravada Buddhism. Meditation - Mental concentration and mindfulness Mantras - Sacred sounds Mudras - Symbolic hand gestures Prayer Wheels - Reciting mantras with the turn of a wheel.