Buddhism is a religion based on the teachings of Buddha which are referred to as “Dharma” or “the Dharma.”  Buddhist believe they are on a spiritual quest to attain a state of complete enlightenment known as Nirvana.

Over time the Buddhist religion has evolved, fractured and adapted as the religion spread to the continent of Asia and around the globe.  There are three main sects of Buddhism today along with several smaller variants of the religion.

These different Buddhist religions are all united under some core Buddhist principles. In each, the Buddha is considered the spiritual leader.  The Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path are core principles and philosophies of the faith.  All believe that Buddhahood is the highest possible state that can be achieved.

The Theravada or “doctrine of the Elders” was established around 300 BC.  This religion centered around the teachings of Buddha and encouraged it’s followers to use meditation as a means to teach the mind and eliminate suffering with the ultimate goal of reaching Nirvana.  Theravada Buddhism established the canon of Buddhist teachings and the Ten Precepts which govern the lifestyle of Buddhist monks.

This discipline of Buddhism originated in India and moved through southeast Asia into Sri Lanka, Thailand, Burma, Vietnam and other Asian countries.  As this form of Buddhism was embraced by the indigenous people, the Theravada was altered to incorporate the religious beliefs of the various geographic regions. It is still practiced in Laos, Sri Lanka and Cambodia today.

Mahayana, or Eastern Buddhism, expands the Pali Canon and includes other religious philosophies and texts that encourage altruism and the need to live a life of universal compassion.  These beliefs are central to their concept of an “Awakened mind.”  Practiced primarily in China, Korea and Japan, Mahayana Buddhism incorporates elements of mysticism and cosmology.

Mahayana Buddhism itself has divided into two main sects.  Zen Buddhism, which focuses more on internalization of the spiritual path and self-reliance and Pure Land Buddhism which teaches that dedication to the Amitabha Buddha is required to reach Nirvana. Although deeply influenced by Mahayana Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism or Vajrayana is another distinct discipline of the Buddhist faith.

Referred to as Tantric Buddhism, Vajrayana incorporates text and scriptures from both Mahayana and Theraveda Buddhism along with Buddhist Tantras.  A major difference of Vajrayana Buddhism is that it teaches that Buddhahood can be achieved in a single life time without need for reincarnation.

The Path to Enlightenment and Buddhahood is the most significant difference between the various Buddhist disciplines.  While all believe in the core principles of meditation and spiritual questing guided by the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, the attainment of Nirvana varies considerably.

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It has long been true that Christmas is not just for Christians any more.  Many people, of many different religious persuasions or of no persuasion at all, celebrate the day and the season.  Followers of Buddhism in the Washington area are among the groups celebrating the tradition.

Like many people in the United States this time of year, Wilson Hurley has put up a Christmas tree in his house. But his Christmas tree sits in front of an image of Buddha. The front of his house has an ordinary Christmas wreath as well, but the Buddhist prayer flags in his back yard are a more unusual sight. “The tradition is that the flags are hung outside with the prayer and any beneficial aspiration, and then get blown in the wind and to all beings,” he said.

read more at voice of America news