Buddhism

Founded by Gautama Buddha in India, with a focus on enlightenment, the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path, and the cessation of suffering.

What is the origin of Buddhism and where did it spread?

- "It originated in the eastern Gangetic plain as a śramaṇa–movement in the 5th century BCE, and gradually spread throughout much of Asia via the Silk Road."

How many followers does Buddhism have and what percentage of the global population do they make up?

- "It is the world's fourth-largest religion, with over 520 million followers (Buddhists) who comprise seven percent of the global population."

What is the central focus of the Buddha's teachings?

- "The Buddha's central teachings emphasize the aim of attaining liberation from, or release of, the fetters and hindrances, which cause attachment or clinging and mental unstableness or unease (dukkha)."

What path does the Buddha endorse for mental development?

- "He endorsed the Middle Way, a path of mental development that avoids both extreme asceticism and hedonism."

How is the cultivation of the mind and Buddhist ethics summarized?

- "A summary of this path is expressed in the Noble Eightfold Path, a cultivation of the mind through observance of meditation and Buddhist ethics."

What are some widely observed practices in Buddhism?

- "Other widely observed practices include: monasticism; 'taking refuge' in the Three Jewels: the Buddha, the dharma, and the saṅgha; and the cultivation of perfections (pāramitā)."

What are the two major branches of Buddhism and how do they differ?

- "Two major extant branches of Buddhism are generally recognized by scholars: Theravāda (lit. 'School of the Elders') and Mahāyāna (lit. 'Great Vehicle')."

What is emphasized in the Theravada tradition?

- "The Theravada tradition emphasizes the attainment of nirvāṇa (lit. 'extinguishing') as a means of transcending the individual self and ending the cycle of death and rebirth (saṃsāra)."

What does the Mahayana tradition emphasize?

- "The Mahayana tradition emphasizes the Bodhisattva-ideal, in which one works for the liberation of all beings."

What languages are the Buddhist texts written in?

- "The Buddhist canon is vast, with many different textual collections in different languages (such as Sanskrit, Pali, Tibetan, and Chinese)."

Where is Theravada Buddhism predominantly practiced?

- "The Theravāda branch has a widespread following in Sri Lanka as well as in Southeast Asia, namely Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia."

Where is the Mahayana branch predominantly practiced?

- "The Mahāyāna branch—which includes the traditions of Zen, Pure Land, Nichiren, Tiantai, Tendai, and Shingon—is predominantly practiced in Nepal, Bhutan, China, Malaysia, Vietnam, Taiwan, Korea, and Japan."

What is Vajrayana and how is it related to Mahayana?

- "Additionally, Vajrayāna (lit. 'Indestructible Vehicle'), a body of teachings attributed to Indian adepts, may be viewed as a separate branch or tradition within Mahāyāna."

Where is Tibetan Buddhism primarily practiced?

- "Tibetan Buddhism, which preserves the Vajrayāna teachings of eighth-century India, is practiced in the Himalayan states as well as in Mongolia and Russian Kalmykia."

Where was Buddhism historically practiced in the Indian subcontinent?

- "Historically, until the early 2nd millennium, Buddhism was widely practiced in the Indian subcontinent."

In what other regions of Asia did Buddhism have a presence?

- "It also had a foothold to some extent elsewhere in Asia, namely Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan." Please note that the quotes provided are paraphrased summaries of the answers found in the text, rather than direct quotes.