Buddhism

A statue of the Buddha

Buddism, the religion of 43% of the Japanese population ¹³, is one of the major religions of the Far East. Begun around 500 BC in India, it teaches its followers that the way to enlightenment and escape from the endless cycle of rebirth is by living a moderate lifestyle. The main beliefs of Buddhism are given in the Four Noble Truths:

1. Existence is unhappiness.
2. Unhappiness is caused by selfish craving.
3. Selfish craving can be destroyed.
4. It can be destroyed by following the Eightfold Path, which consists of:
   1. Right understanding
   2. Right purpose (aspiration)
   3. Right speech
   4. Right conduct
   5. Right vocation
   6. Right effort
   7. Right alertness
   8. Right concentration

Buddhists live by the Four Noble Truths so that they will not be reincarnated. Instead, they hope to reach Nirvana, which is a state of non-being in which there is no unhappiness. ⁴

Zen Buddhism is particular to Japan and China. Founded in China in the 5th century AD, it teaches that enlightenment can be reached by mediatation. Followers of Zen Buddhism sometimes focus their minds on koans or phrases to help free their minds from their bodies. Koans are often paradoxical sayings, such "the sound of one hand clapping." ⁹

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