Culture Region
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Buddhism is usually recogonized as one of the world's fastest growing religions. There is estimated to be between 1.2 to 1.7 billion Buddhists in the world. Buddhism is still one of the most popular religions in Asia. Buddhism emphasizes pracitces over bleif generally. Buddhists believe in the concept of rebirth and reincarnation. Buddhists believe that faith centers on correct understanding of human anture and ultimate reality. Buddha told his followers to focus on the Four Noble Truths: Life mans suffering 2. Origin of suffering is attachment. 3. The cessation of suffering is attainable and 4. the path to the cessation of suffering. Icons include statues of the Buddha.
Diffusion
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Buddhism was founded by Buddha in northern India around the 5th century B.C. Buddha, born Siddhartha Gautama, was the son of a wealthy land owner. Siddhartha was fed up with his life of luxury and escaped the confines of his home. He left, gave up his worldly goods, and began his search of the "enlightenment". Buddha eventually obatained his perfect enlightenment and then spread around his wisdom throughout presentday India. There are two main branches of Buddhism today, Theravada and Mahayana.
Religious Ecology
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Buddhists are firm believers in reincarnationa and the Law of Karma. They believe that if someone lives a good life, in service of others and devotion to the practice, one would be reincarnated into something magnificent, perhaps a large oak tree. If someone lives a poor life, they would be reincaranated into say, a cockroach.
Culture Integration
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Buddhists usually live out of the public and political eye. The most devote of buddhists spend a large majority of their time in prayer and meditation.
Cultural landscapes
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Buddhists have Eight Great Places: Lumbini, Bodh Gaya, Sarnath, Kusinara, Sravasti, Rajgir, Sankassa, and Vaishali. These sacred locations are where all Buddhists are called to take pilgrimage to.