If the Baháʼí Faith opened this series by talking about unity and continuity, Buddhism arrives with a very different but equally disarming opening line: life involves suffering. No thunder, no cosmic courtroom, no villain monologue. Just an observation, delivered calmly, and followed immediately by something refreshingly useful: a method.
This episode is part of The Modern Religion Series, which you can find here: https://medium.com/@DaveLumAI/the-modern-religion-series-many-paths-one-curious-human-7b55eca82f4e
When and by whom was Buddhism founded?
Buddhism began in the 5th century BCE in the Indian subcontinent and is traditionally attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, later known as the Buddha (“the Awakened One”). Most historians place his life roughly between c. 480–400 BCE, though exact dates vary.
According to early sources, Siddhartha was born into a noble family, encountered illness, aging, and death outside the palace walls, and decided that luxury was not a solution to human dissatisfaction. After years of study and meditation, he attained awakening while meditating beneath a fig tree (later known as the Bodhi Tree) in Bodh Gaya.
From that point on, he taught not as a god or prophet, but as a teacher describing a path others could test for themselves.
Core teachings and tenets
Buddhism is famously concise at its core:
The Four Noble Truths
- There is suffering (dukkha).
- Suffering has a cause (craving and ignorance).
- Suffering can end.
- There is a path that leads to the end of suffering.
That path is known as The Noble Eightfold Path, traditionally grouped into three categories:
- Wisdom: right view, right intention
- Ethical conduct: right speech, right action, right livelihood
- Mental discipline: right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration
None of this requires belief in a creator deity. The emphasis is experiential: observe your mind, your actions, and their consequences.
One of the most frequently cited passages appears in the Dhammapada:
“All conditioned things are impermanent.” — Dhammapada, Chapter 20, Verse 277, traditionally attributed to the Buddha, Pali Canon, c. 3rd century BCE
How does Buddhism portray the divine?
This is where Buddhism quietly breaks expectations. Classical Buddhism does not center on a creator god. Instead, it focuses on dharma (the way things are) and dependent origination: the idea that phenomena arise due to causes and conditions.
Some later traditions include celestial beings or bodhisattvas, but these are not eternal creators. Enlightenment is not granted; it is realized.
The ultimate reality is not personified. It is understood.
Is Buddhism growing or shrinking?
Globally, Buddhism is often described as stable or slowly declining in traditionally Buddhist regions, largely due to demographic shifts, while growing in interest and practice in Western countries.
This highlights an important distinction:
- Number of adherents: relatively stable worldwide, with regional declines
- Cultural and philosophical influence: expanding, especially in psychology, mindfulness practices, and secular meditation
Those are not the same thing, and Buddhism makes room for that difference.
Benefits to individuals
At an individual level, Buddhist practice emphasizes:
- Emotional regulation
- Ethical clarity
- Attention and awareness
- Reduced attachment to destructive habits
Modern clinical psychology has borrowed heavily from these ideas, particularly mindfulness-based stress reduction and cognitive therapies influenced by Buddhist meditation techniques.
Benefits to families and communities
Families and communities influenced by Buddhist ethics often emphasize:
- Nonviolence (ahimsa)
- Compassion (karuna)
- Loving-kindness (metta)
- Responsibility for one’s actions
Monastic communities have historically served as centers for education, healthcare, and preservation of texts across Asia.
Societal and global impact
Buddhism has contributed to:
- The preservation of vast literary traditions
- Early systems of organized monastic education
- Philosophical discussions on ethics without reliance on divine command
- Cross-cultural dialogue between East and West
Its influence reaches far beyond temples, shaping literature, art, and modern contemplative practices.
Impact on all living things and the physical universe
Buddhist ethics extend moral concern beyond humans. Non-harm, respect for life, and interdependence appear frequently in teachings and practices.
The universe is not described as created for humanity, but as a shared process in which actions ripple outward.
Spiritual benefit
Spiritually, Buddhism offers a path aimed at liberation from suffering, not reward after death. Awakening is framed as clarity, freedom from compulsive craving, and direct insight into reality as it is.
Conflict, persecution, and challenges
Despite its peaceful reputation, Buddhists have experienced persecution in various historical contexts, including:
- Suppression under certain imperial regimes
- Cultural destruction during political revolutions
- Modern conflicts where religious identity overlaps with ethnic or national tensions
Buddhism, like all religions, exists within history rather than above it.
Art, literature, and culture
Buddhism has inspired:
- Temple architecture across Asia
- Sculpture depicting the Buddha in serene, meditative postures
- Literary works such as Zen koans and Tibetan texts
- Modern films and novels exploring mindfulness and impermanence
Its aesthetic influence often mirrors its philosophy: calm, balanced, and quietly deliberate.
Interesting tidbits
- The Buddha discouraged blind belief, encouraging followers to test teachings against experience.
- Meditation was taught as a skill, not a miracle.
- Silence is sometimes considered a valid answer.
For further reading, an excellent general resource is: https://www.buddhanet.net
Art Prompt (Contemporary Art)
A vast, softly illuminated field of abstract forms arranged with deliberate restraint, where translucent layers of muted blues, warm greys, and pale golds overlap like drifting thoughts. The composition feels spacious yet intimate, with subtle geometric interruptions that create rhythm without symmetry. Textures appear gently worn, as if time itself has passed over the surface, leaving traces rather than scars. The mood is contemplative and calm, inviting prolonged viewing rather than immediate interpretation, with light behaving less like a spotlight and more like a quiet presence.
Video Prompt
Slow, fluid camera movement across the layered surfaces, with gradual shifts in light and color that feel almost breath-like. Elements subtly emerge and recede, creating a sense of depth without sharp transitions. Motion remains unhurried, encouraging attention rather than excitement, as textures gently pulse and fade in a continuous, meditative flow.
Music suggestions for the video
- “Still Corners” — The Trip
- “Lapse” — Hania Rani
If this series sparks curiosity, follow along, share your thoughts, and drop a comment. Questions are welcome. So is silence.
