Origins Of The Buddhist Faith

Buddhism as a religious tradition started during the lifebelieve that the Buddhism tradition did not begin in
of Buddha who was known as Siddhartha Gautama,the sixth century but in the far distant past, perhaps
also known as Shakyamuni.even at the beginning of time.
Buddha was born in India around the end of the sixthAfter the death or Nirvana of Siddhartha Gautama, A
century.group of followers followed his instructions and had
The teachings of Buddha were an inspiration to manyhis body cremated, they then distributed his ashes as
and soon started to spread.relics, which were enshrined in funerary mounds also
Buddhism spread from India on to Sri Lanka, fromknown as stupas. Veneration of his remains is what
their, it soon covered most of Southeast Asia.gave rise to the tradition of Buddhism as we know it
Sometime during the first or second century as moretoday.
and more people embraced the teachings of Buddha,A popular Buddhism Saying:
it was brought north and into China. From here it wasTheres a reality even prior to heaven and earth;
not to long before it spread to Korea, Japan andindeed it has no form, much less a name; eyes fail to
Vietnam.see it; it has no voice for ears to detect. To call it
In the seventh century, teachers of Buddhismmind or Buddha violates its nature.
travelled North across the Himalayas and brought theAbsolutely quiet, and yet illuminating it allows itself to
Buddhist faith into Tibet. Buddhism today is practicedbe perceived only by the clear eyed. It is Dharma
by people in many countries the world over.beyond form and sound; it is Tao without words.
Although we believe THE Buddha to be SiddharthaWishing to entice the blind The Buddha has playfully
Gautama, Ancient texts known as Jataka show thatlet words escape his golden mouth; Heaven and
he was also taught by previous Buddhas. BuddhistsEarth are ever since filled with entangling briars.