Buddhism

1. There is no almighty God in Buddhism. There is no one to hand

out rewards or punishments on a supposedly Judgement Day.

2. Buddhism is strictly not a religion in the context of being a

faith and worship owing allegiance to a supernatural being.
Buddhism is different to other religions. There is no god in buddhism

2. Buddhism is strictly not a religion in the context of being a faith and

worship owing allegiance to a supernatural being.
A place of worship
• Buddhists can worship both at home or at a temple. It is not considered essential to go to a temple to worship with others.
• At home
• Buddhists will often set aside a room or a part of a room as a shrine. There will be a statue of Buddha, candles, and an incense
burner.
• Temples
• Buddhist temples come in many shapes. Perhaps the best known are the pagodas of China and Japan.
• Another typical Buddhist building is the Stupa, which is a stone structure built over what are thought to be relics of the Buddha, or
over copies of the Buddha's teachings.
• Buddhist temples are designed to symbolise the five elements:
• Fire
• Air
• Earth, symbolised by the square base
• Water
• Wisdom, symbolised by the pinnacle at the top
• All Buddhist temples contain an image or a statue of Buddha.
• Worship
• There are as many forms of Buddhist worship as there are schools of Buddhism - and there are many of those.
• Worship in Mahayana tradition takes the form of devotion to Buddha and to Bodhisattvas.
• Worshippers may sit on the floor barefoot facing an image of Buddha and chanting. They will listen to monks chanting from
religious texts, perhaps accompanied by instruments, and take part in prayers.
Beliefs
Symbols
• The Eight-Spoked Dharma Wheel or 'Dharmachakra' (Sanskrit) symbolises the Buddha's turning
the Wheel of Truth or Law The wheel (on the left and right) refers to the story that shortly after
the Buddha achieved enlightenment, Brahma came down from heaven and requested the Buddha
to teach by offering him a Dharmachakra. The Buddha is known as the Wheel-Turner: he who sets
a new cycle of teachings in motion and in consequence changes the course of destiny.
• The Bodhi Tree refers to the tree under which the Buddha achieved enlightenment
• The Lion is one of Buddhism's most potent symbols. Traditionally, the lion is associated with
regality, strength and power. It is therefore an appropriate symbol for the Buddha who tradition
has it was a royal prince. The Buddha's teachings are sometimes referred to as the 'Lion's Roar',
again indicative of their strength and power.
• The Begging-bowl refers to the the story that shortly before the Buddha reached enlightenment,
a young woman named Sujata offered him a bowl of milk-rice. At that moment, he was practicing
austerity by eating extremely little. But he realised at that moment that he would need to have
more strength for the final steps to enlightenment, and further fasting would only reduce his
energy. After he reached enlightenment, he is said to have thrown away what little was left in the
bowl to signify his renunciation of all material possessions. Finding the middle way between
extreme austerity and complete attachment to life is an important principle of Buddhism.
The bowl also points to the monk's way of life; going from the monastery into the village each
morning and living off what is put into it by lay people.
Food
Festivals and celebrations