Buddhism: History and Practice

Buddhism refers to faith and religion that was founded by Siddhartha Gautama or "the Buddha" more than 2,500 years ago in India. The teachings of Buddha are known as "Dharma". A few of the fundamental tenets of Buddhism are wisdom, kindness, patience, generosity and compassion. Many Buddhist ideas overlap with other faiths' philosophies. It is most prominently practiced in East and Southeast Asia, however, its influence is growing in the West. There are three main forms of Buddhism that are practiced in specific geographical areas. Theravada Buddhism is followed in Thailand, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Laos, and Burma. Mahayana Buddhism is prevalent in China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, and Vietnam. Tibetan Buddhism is practiced in Tibet, Nepal, Mongolia, Bhutan, and parts of Russia and northern India. The book aims to shed light on some of the unexplored teachings of Buddhism. It strives to provide a fair idea about this religion and to help develop a better understanding of the moral precepts of this faith. The readers would gain knowledge that would broaden their perspective about Buddhism.