Buddhism began with Gotama the Buddha in the sixth century BCE and has developed
two chief forms: Theravada (or Hinayana) is found especially in Sri Lanka, Burma, and Thailand:
Mahayana is found in Japan, China, Korea, and Indochina. Zen, a more recent form of Buddhism, is
found throughout the world. Some believe Buddhism is not properly understood as a religion, though
this presentation describes its religious qualities: a belief in transcendent reality, sacred scriptures,
monastic life, and views on a future life and the goal of human existence.

The Religion, Scriptures, and Spirituality series describes the beliefs, religious practices, and the spiritual
and moral commitments of the world's great religious traditions. It also describes a religion's way of
understanding scripture, identifies its outstanding thinkers, and discusses its attitude and relationship
to society.

Professor & Author