Video – Let’s talk Buddhism and stuff

Originating in India in the 6th and 5th centuries BCE, Buddhism is a non-theistic religion: there is no belief in a creator God, and it is also considered a philosophy and a moral discipline.

Buddhism was founded by the sage Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha) who, according to legend, had been a Hindu prince before abandoning his position and wealth, to become a spiritual ascetic and, finally, an enlightened being who taught others the means by which they could escape samsara: the cycle of suffering, rebirth, and death.

Buddhism has a strong individualistic component: everyone has responsibility for their own happiness in life. Buddha presented the Four Noble Truths as guiding principles: there is suffering in life; the cause of suffering is desire; ending desire means ending suffering; and following a controlled and moderate lifestyle will end desire, and therefore end suffering.

In order to achieve these goals, the Buddha presented the Noble Eightfold Path: right belief, right resolve, right speech, right conduct, right occupation, right effort, right mindfulness, and right samadhi—or meditation. According to Buddhist practice, following the Noble Eightfold Path will ultimately result in being liberated from samsara.