Buddhism
The founder of Buddhism was Siddartha Gautama, a royal prince born in Nepal in about 563 BCE.
After many years of prayer and meditation, Siddartha gained enlightenment, meaning that he finally understood the basic truths of life. He was given the title of Buddha ( "awakened one" ). The Buddha did not want to be worshipped as a god. He taught that people would be happier if they took responsibility for their on thoughts and actions. His teachings were simply a guide for living. Today there are more than 400 million Buddhists; most live in Asia, although the peaceful, caring ideals of Buddhism have also attracted many followers in Western countries.
The lotus plant is an important Buddhist symbol. Its flower turns towards the sun, just as the followers of the Buddha turn toward knowledge. Lotus flowers are also sacred to Hindus.
By Charlene Troth
and
Vicky Seffens