Kirolos Amer, Mina Sherif, Omar Hisham, Hussein Eltayar.

Buddhism

 Buddhism has nearly 510 million believers from all around the world.

 It’s ranked as the fourth religion in the world by popularity.

 Buddhism originated in India and is based on the teachings of Buddha. Buddhists have
unique traditions, values, and beliefs, such as reincarnation.

 About 510 million people practice Buddhism worldwide. China has the largest Buddhist
population with 254.7 million, followed by Thailand at 66.1 million, Burma with 41.44
million, and Japan with 41.38 million.

 Cambodia has the highest percentage of Buddhists at 97.9%, followed by Thailand at

94.6% and Burma (Myanmar) with 87.9%.

 Several forms of Buddhism exist globally, including Mahayana, Theravada, and

Vajrayana. Each type has slightly different interpretations of Buddha’s teaching,
particularly when it comes to dietary practices.

Countries with the highest percentage of Buddhists:

 Cambodia (97.9%)
 Thailand (94.6%)
 Burma (87.9%)
 Sri Lanka (70.2%)
 Laos (64.7%)
 Mongolia (51.7%)
 Bhutan (79.5%)

Languages of Buddhism:

The Buddha's teachings are written in the following languages:

 Sanskrit
 Pali
 Chinese
 Tibetan
 Japanese

Beliefs:
  Followers of Buddhism don’t acknowledge a supreme god. They instead focus
on achieving enlightenment—a state of inner peace and wisdom.

 The religion’s founder, Buddha, is considered an extraordinary being, but not a

god. The word Buddha means “enlightened.”

 Buddhists often meditate because they believe it helps awaken truth.

 Some scholars don’t recognize Buddhism as an organized religion, but rather, a

“way of life” or a “spiritual tradition.”
 Buddhism encourages its people to avoid self-indulgence but also self-denial.

 Buddha’s most important teachings, known as The Four Noble Truths, are
essential to understanding the religion.
 Buddhists embrace the concepts of karma (the law of cause and effect) and
reincarnation (the continuous cycle of rebirth).
 Followers of Buddhism can worship in temples or in their own homes.

 There is no single Buddhist symbol, but a number of images have evolved that
represent Buddhist beliefs, including the lotus flower, the eight-spoked dharma
wheel, the Bodhi tree and the swatiska (an ancient symbol whose name means
"well-being" or "good fortune" in Sanskrit).  

Values:

Refrain from taking a life: Not killing any living being. For Buddhists, this includes
animals, so many Buddhists choose to be vegetarian.

Refrain from taking what is not given: Not stealing from anyone.

Refrain from the misuse of the senses: For example, not looking at people in a lustful
way.

Refrain from wrong speech: Not lying or gossiping about other people.
Refrain from intoxicants that cloud the mind: Not drinking alcohol or taking drugs, as
these do not help you to think clearly.

Feasts and holidays of Buddhism:

 Nirvana Day:
Celebrated by some Buddhist on February 28th. Nirvana Day is the celebration of
Buddha's death when he reached total Nirvana, at the age of 80.

 Wesak
Celebrated as one of the most important Buddhist festivals, Wesak celebrates the
Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and death.
  Wassana
Recognized as Buddha's first teaching, Wassana also marks the beginning of the 3-month
'Rains Retreat' for nuns and monks.

 Pavarana
This date marks the end of the intensive practice Buddha endured.

 Bodhi Day
According to traditions, Bodhi marks the day that Siddhartha Gautama became the
historical Buddha by which he experienced his first enlighten.

 Obon

The summer obon season perpetuates the Buddhist tradition of honoring family ancestors, who
are said to return to the mortal world to visit.

 Dhamma Day

This day commemorates the preaching of Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta which literally

translated means "When the Wheel of Dharma is set to Motion". It is believed to be the day when
Lord Buddha imparted his first teaching.

Foods that Buddhists eat:

Buddhists are usually Lacto-vegetarians, meaning that they don’t eat meat and dairy. Traditional
Buddhist cuisine is simple and features a staple (rice, congee or noodles) with vegetables that are
stir-fried, braised or cooked in broth. Buddhist restaurants run by temples often serve a
mushroom noodle soup to visitors and guests.

The Buddhist diet that originated in monasteries keeps food light in its original flavor and avoids
pungent ingredients like garlic, leeks and onions. Monks and nuns not only avoid meat, but also
eggs and dairy.
Clothing that Buddhists wear:

 The inner robe ( antaravasaka)

 The outer robe (uttarasanga)
 The great robe (samghati)