Question #11

Question: What other interesting information can you find about your religion?

·         This religion is unlike any other religion. They do not believe in gods. They believe in kindness and life after death. If you live a good life, you will have a better life in the next life and it will build up good Karma. If you live a bad life, you will have bad Karma the next life.

·         Buddhists go to temple, not at a special time or day, but when they can.

·         Nuns are not allowed to criticize monks but monks are allowed to criticize nuns.

·         In initial days, a Buddhist monk was not supposed to cook food, he could only ask for food in alms. Purpose was to spend all the time in spreading awareness about Buddhism.

·         Buddha was not a fat man - his lifestyle of moderation in eating and walking about teaching would have made him fit not fat

·         A Buddhist should eat whatever food is given to him, but should never ask for an animal to be slaughtered for his meal.

·         Buddhism is a religion which has variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha. Two major branches of Buddhism are: Theravada ("The School of the Elders") and Mahayana ("The Great Vehicle). The foundations of Buddhist religion are the 3 Jewels: the Buddha, the Dharma (the teachings), and the Sangha (the community)

·         Buddhism word is derived from Hindi word Buddha, which means WISDOM. In that sense Buddha means wise man.

·         More than 50% of Buddhism Teachings are part of Hinduism, the most popular religion in India.