Buddhism

Buddhism has the characteristics of what would be expected in a cosmic religions for the future: it transcends a personal God, avoids dogmas and theology, it covers both the natural and spiritual, and it is based on a religious sense aspiring from the experience of all things, natural and spiritual, as a meaningful unity.? (Albert Einstein)  Known as one of the world?s great religions, it is professed by over 3500,000,000 people, most of whom live in the Far East.  Buddhism is based on the teachings of Siddharta Gautama, who is more commonly known as Buddha, the ?Enlightened One?.  It was developed during the fifth and sixth centuries BCE around 535 BCE, which was the date Siddharta Gautama reached enlightenment and became the Buddha.  The Buddhist doctrine of tolerance, pacifism, and the spiritual equality of all men has been a great civilizing influence in the far East. It has adapted itself to the impact of the West, and its insights have in turn influenced many Western thinkers.  Buddhism is based on a rational analysis of man?s condition, and it attempts to show the way to salvation.