In short: Buddhism is the path taught by the Buddha, a teacher in northern India about 2,500 years ago, to understand suffering and become free from it. Its core is the Four Noble Truths and the Middle Way of the Noble Eightfold Path: ethics, meditation and wisdom. The Buddha summed it up in one verse: "Not to do any evil; to embrace the good; to purify one's mind: this is the instruction of the Buddhas." (Dhammapada 183).
Who was the Buddha?
Siddhattha Gotama grew up in comfort, saw old age, sickness and death, and left home to find a way beyond suffering. After years of searching he awakened, and taught for 45 years. "Buddha" means "the awakened one". (His own story)
Read the full guide
The teaching in five ideas
- The Four Noble Truths: there is suffering, it has a cause (craving), it can end, and there is a path. (More)
- The Middle Way: neither indulgence nor self-punishment; the Noble Eightfold Path. (More)
- Karma: intentional actions shape our lives. "It is intention that I call deeds." (More)
- Impermanence and not-self: everything changes, and nothing in body or mind is a fixed self. (More)
- Freedom: nibbāna, the end of greed, hate and delusion. (More)
What Buddhists actually do
- Keep the five precepts: no killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying or intoxication. (More)
- Meditate: mindfulness of breathing, loving-kindness. (Start here)
- Chant and reflect morning and evening. (Chanting)
- Give and support the community. (Generosity)
The Three Jewels
Buddhists "take refuge" in the Buddha (the teacher), the Dhamma (the teaching) and the Saṅgha (the community). (The Three Refuges)
Test it yourself
The Buddha didn't ask for blind belief. He told the Kālāmas to judge teachings by whether they lead to harm or to welfare when put into practice. (The Kālāma Sutta)
Try it
The best introduction is three minutes of practice: try one now. New words? See Buddhist terms explained.
Questions people ask
What is Buddhism in simple words?
Buddhism is the path taught by the Buddha, a teacher in India about 2,500 years ago, to understand suffering and become free from it, through ethics, meditation and wisdom.
Is Buddhism a religion or a philosophy?
Both descriptions are used. It has teachings, practices, monks and nuns, and devotion, like a religion; it also invites people to test its teachings for themselves, which many find philosophical. The Buddha asked people to judge by whether a practice leads to harm or welfare (AN 3.65).
Do Buddhists believe in God?
Buddhism doesn't center on a creator god. The Buddha is honored as a teacher who woke up, not as a god.