BUDDHISM

Buddhists follow the way or truths outlined by Siddiharta Gautama, the 'Enlightened One', who was born in northern India in the 5-6th century BC. Buddha devoted his life to seeking a way to end suffering through thought and deed. His philosophy, summarised as The Eightfold Path, provides a guide for disciples striving to perfect the qualities of wisdom and compassion. Buddhists believe in cyclical life, the ultimate goal being the attainment of nirvana, ultimate release and peace.

The majority of Asian peoples follow Buddhism whose main schools are Mahayana and Theravada. Theravada teachings are collected in the Pali Tripitaka while the earliest Mahayana scriptures, written in Sanskrit, also date from the 1st century AD but were added to over the centuries. Sacred Buddhist sites include Bodh Gaya in Bihar where Buddha attained enlightenment, Lumbini his birthplace in Nepal and Sarnath,site of his first sermon in Uttar Pradesh Other places of religious significance include Adam's Peak in Sri Lanka, Mount Kailash in Tibet and Borobodur in Indonesia. The Temple of the Tooth in Kandy and the Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon containing relics of the Buddha are other places of pilgrimage.