1.The term 'Buddhism' was coined by Western scholars in the 1830s. Buddhists don't actually refer to their religion as "Buddhism".
2.Buddhism originated from around 400BC with the historical individual known as the Buddha.
3.Buddhism is an extensive and internally diverse tradition with two main branches.
4.With 360 million followers, Buddhism is the fourth largest religion in the world.
5.In Buddhism, there is no single holy book. Extensive scriptures have been preserved in many Asian languages.
6.In Buddhism Buddhists don't believe in a supreme being or creator god.Buddhism believes in three elemental concepts:
1) nothing is permanent,
2) all actions have consequences,
3) it is possible to change.
7.Because of its emphasis on meditation and mindfulness, Buddhism is often considered to be a form of psychology rather than a religion.
8.Statues of the Buddha often show him with half closed eyes, which is meant to show a state of meditation and, moreover, a state of indifference to the material world.
9.Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha) came from a Hindu family, and both religions overlap somewhat. The major difference is that Hinduism is clearly a theistic religion, whereas Buddhism is mostly non-theistic.
10.Biographers note that Steve Jobs had strong leanings toward Buddhism, particularly its emphasis on focus, simplicity, and perfection, all of which he tried to implement in his Apple designs.
11.The largest seated Buddha in the world was carved out of the rock face of Lingyun Hill in Leshan, China, about 800 AD. The statue stands about 230 feet (70 m) tall and the shoulders measure 90 ft (30 m) across.
12.The Buddha is not worshipped. While some in Hinduism view the Buddha as an incarnation of Vishnu, most Buddhists think that Buddha is human.
13.According to legend, the Buddha sat under a tree, the Bo tree, for 49 days. After being tempted by demons, he discovered the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path to Nirvana (ultimate bliss).
14.The three major branches of Buddhism in the modern world are Mahayana Buddhism, Theravada Buddhism, and Vajrayana Buddhism. Mahayana Buddhism is believed to be the largest branch, with Theravada Buddhism and Vajrayana coming in second and third, respectively.
15.
The Buddha had only one son named Rahula ("Fetter"). Shortly after he was born, the Buddha left his family to seek enlightenment. His son would later become the first Sāmanera (novice monk).
16.The lotus is an important symbol in Buddhism. It represents the journey of enlightenment because it grows from the muddy water into the light, just as a "buddha" or enlightened one does.
17.
The ultimate goal of Buddhism is to put an end to suffering and rebirth. The way to end suffering is by fulfilling the human potential for goodness and happiness.
18.While most religions concern themselves with the creation and the afterlife, in Buddhism, the most important concept is to let go of the past and future to focus on the moment.
19.According to the Buddha, the secret to happiness is simple: To want what you have and not want what you don't have.
20.The Buddha is sometimes symbolized as an umbrella. In Buddha's time, members of the royalty were protected from the sun and rain by parasols, hence it became a symbol of protection.
