Is Buddhism a religion or a philosophy of living?

Answer 1

Yes. Buddhism is a practice...and not at just set times. You have to live it.

Meditation, View and Action are the three pillars that I use for my own life. Meditation is formal and informal practice, View is how we see the world, our actual view and our aspirational view. Action is actually, what we think, say and do. For most Buddhists these three pillars are interdependent; meditation is going to be more successful if it is supported by view and action.

Answer 2

Buddhism has been labeled "religion", "philosophy", "metaphysics", etc. -- as many labels as there are perspectives, as many perspectives as there observers. This is a key understanding, since Buddhism is, at the same time, any of these and none of these ... which introduces you to its teaching.

Perspectives imply observers, and an observer has a relative view of the whole; hence in Buddhism, everything is relative, as Einstein reaffirmed. Similarly, there is no "absolute truth" but "change".

Implied in an observer is an "atman" or ego, a nexus of cause-and-effect (karma), which in Buddhism, is the root cause of suffering (dukkha) that continues in a cycle of actual or virtual rebirth, momentary and perpetual reincarnation (Euler); this suffering, Buddhism aims to cease, through realization and "enlightenment" (true/unfettered joy).

Buddhism is a "teaching" that describes the path from ego to non-ego, from "atman" to "nirvana" (nibbana). Nirvana is not a "state" of being, rather it breaks the cycle of cause-and-effect, and of the distinction of things (the illusion), hence has no state.

The "teaching" that describes the path from ego to non-ego is called the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eight-Fold Path (both recursive), developed and taught by the Buddha circa 500 B.C., who "attained" nirvana.

-- HyperVista (thanks Harvard, MIT, and G.S. Brown)

Answer 3

a buddhist's life is simple and care free. they have no troubles and will live eternally. it differs from a christian one in 2 aspects:

buddhists have little possessions

they don't want anything except self fulfilment

Answer 4

Take a look at the eightfold path as a staring point:

You should hold the right view

Have the right intention

Engage in right speech

Undertake right action

LIve bby the right livelihood

Apply the right effort

Exert the right mindfulness

Develop the right concentration

Answer 5

To be happy; to be kind, compassionate and generous. That pretty much sums it up.