Buddhism

Buddhism wasn't exactly "made." A following came about because of the teachings of the Buddha. Siddhartha Gautama was born in Nepal around 563 BC. Around the age of 35 he achieved enlightenment (Nirvana). Upon this enlightenment, he realized the Four Noble Truths, the steps that would free anyone from suffering & lead the path to Nirvana. That is the core of Buddhism and when the Buddha began orally passing on his findings to others, whoever chose to listen. The Buddha taught others until his death 45 years later, whereupon his teachings were passed on orally, eventually being committed to text .

There are no gods in Buddhism. There is no God concept or anything supernatural at all. The Buddha only claimed to be awake; he did not claim to be a god.

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Then they wouldn't have other cultures. Plus, they would not have beliefs in other things. <---- And your Mama! :P

1. changes people lives by having good karma

In the year 534 BCE, a young Indian prince named Siddhartha Gautama (age 29) was deeply troubled about the fact that so many people suffer. So he left his wife and child and renounced his throne to find out the answer to why there was suffering. Now it should be noted when Buddhists speak of suffering this includes dissatisfaction (unhappiness) with the way things are. Siddhartha went to study with various gurus to try to find the answer to his question. Theses gurus had him do various types of yoga and meditation to try to help him with his quest. None of them seem to have an answer to his question though.

Siddhartha left these various gurus and joined in with a group of ascetics. Asceticism is a path in which you deprive the body in order to conquer and control the mind. He practiced asceticism fiercely, almost to the point of death. At that point he realized that giving in to pleasure, as he did when he was a prince, nor trying to punish the body, was the proper path to finding the answer. So he sat down and meditated under a pi-pal tree. During this meditation he discovered the root of all suffering and the path to how to overcome suffering and became enlightened.

After his enlightenment he meets up with his ascetic friends, who by now were critical of him for leaving the path of asceticism. But he explains to them what he had discovered and they were instantly converted. From there The Buddha taught for 45 years until his death at 85 converting many to his teachings and now Buddhism is the 4th largest religion in the world.

Buddhism are most worshiped in Nepal, Tibet, Burma, Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand....

Buddhists need to be as law abiding as any other citizen. They are subject to the same legal punishments for breaking the law.

For any person that follows a set of behavioral guidelines (religious, philosophical or personal) situations arise when the culturally or legally imposed requirements cannot be followed. Most people who have strong commitments to their own internal beliefs will not follow the laws in that case.

India

Buddhism is practiced in many countries, with many cultures. The identification of deities in different countries, and among the different denominations of Buddhism varies. The Sanskrit word "deva" refers to any number of non-human beings with greater or different powers than humans. That word is also used in Tibetan scripts, and in some form in other Asian languages. There are many different names for the different devas.

In practicing Zen, all that matters is looking into "What am I?" This big question points to a clear, before-thinking mind. When you're thinking, you may have the idea that there are infinite beings in the world, or billions, or just a few. But before thinking, there's nothing at all: complete, empty stillness.

There is no "regular" Buddhism. There are a number of schools of Buddhism. Zen is one school that originates from Japan.

1. Life means suffering.

2. The origin of suffering is attachment

3. The cessation of suffering is attainable.

4. The path to the cessation of suffering is contained in the Eightfold Path

No one is exactly certain, but the most agreed upon year is 483 BCE (5th century BCE).

Buddhism has no "holy" book as that would imply iit was deity-given, Buddhism has no deity.

However books can be revered because of who wrote them, when they were written, who owned them, for their aesthetic beauty, as repositories of knowledge, as resource material, or as antiques or relics. As consequence a Buddhists copy of the Diamond Sutra might be treated as well as the CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics.

Rather than re-invent the wheel, here's some answers to your question:

http://www.budsas.org/ebud/ebdha126.htm

http://www.budsas.org/ebud/ebdha064.htm

But the best I can think of is the introduction to the Jataka:

"Behold ye now this monk austere,

His matted locks, his penance fierce!

Lo! he, unnumbered cycles hence,

A Buddha in the world shall be.

http://sacred-texts.com/bud/bits/bits001.htm

He experimented like a good scientist.

Being fearfully wealthy did not give him the answers, being painfully aesthetic (not eating drinking or caring for personal comfort) wasn't the answer either. What did work was the middle road of enough to eat and enough comfort to survive. Then he thought and contemplated until he concluded that understanding does not come from purposeful thinking. When you become aware you know.

Buddha was born in Lumbini in Southern Nepal but lived much of his life in India

No, Buddhism is not pessimistic. It is a process of realization that all human experience is a potential source of suffering but, if the Four noble truths and Eightfold Path are followed, there is an escape from these problems. Furthermore the path to this peace is under your own personal control without the need of appeasing a deity or running the risk of eternal damnation because a mistake was made during your life.

It is thought to be in Arunachal Pradesh, Northeast India. The White Horse Temple is the oldest Buddhist temple recorded. It was established by Emperor Ming. It was built in the year 68. White Horse Temple is one of the oldest recorded temples. Buddhism originated in Northeast India, so the temple there is probably older.

Yes. Buddhism has about 500 million followers throughout the world. Many others incorporate some aspects of Buddhism into their lives even if they follow other religions. In some countries in the western world Buddhism is the fastest growing religion.

Buddhist meditation is an invitation to turn one's awareness away from the world of activity that usually preoccupies us to the inner experience of thoughts, feelings and perceptions. For more check out cutt. ly/bxbbGQs (just remove the space)

Well he did give up all luxuries and fine clothes!

But he did not fully give up food and water.