A brief overview of Buddhism.

1. Buddhism By Donald Johnson

2. Buddhism Based on life and teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, aka., Buddha-India, 563-483 B.C.E.

3. Buddhism Buddhism explains a purpose to life, it explains apparent injustice and inequality around the world, and it provides a code of practice or way of life that may lead to true happiness ( nirvana ).

4. Painting of Shakyamuni going into Nirvana.

5. Siddhartha Gautama Siddhartha is said to have discovered what Buddhists call the Middle Way —a path of moderation away from the extremes of self-indulgence and self-mortification .

7. Belief system Buddhism is also a belief system which is tolerant of all other beliefs or religions. Buddhism agrees with moral teachings of other religions but goes further by providing a long term purpose within one’s existence, through wisdom and true understanding. Dissenting view here

8. The Drepung Loseling Institute states: "Like all major religions, Buddhism contains an explanation of the origin of existence, a morality, and a specific set of rituals and behaviors. … Buddhism presents a transformational goal, a desire to improve one's situation, and a distinct moral code.

10. Buddhist proselytism at the time of emperor Aśoka the Great (260–218 BCE).

14. A religion to about 300 million people worldwide, 'budhi', means 'to awaken'.

15. dharma Buddhism is a dharmic , non-theistic religion and a philosophy.

19. Buddhist monks As part of the reaction against Hinduism during its early years, Buddhism rejected the caste system. There are only two religiously important social groups: the monks, who have dedicated their lives to full time pursuit of religious goals, and everyone else. Fragments of a Buddhist cave painting, Two Monks , from cave 224 in Qizil, China, dating from the fourth to sixth centuries.

21. Young Tibetan Buddhist monks of Drepung

22. Tibetan Monks

23. Dalai Lama In Tibetan Buddhism, the successive Dalai Lamas (Tibetan: ཏ་ཱལའི་བླ་མ་ ; Simplified Chinese: 达赖喇嘛 ; pinyin: Dálài Lǎmā) form a lineage of allegedly reborn (tulku) magistrates which traces back to 1391. 1st Dalai Lama, (left) Genden Drub 1391-1474 The 14th and current Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso (born 1935).

24. Kadampa Buddhism A special presentation of all Buddha’s teachings, it shows the complete path to enlightenment - how to enter, progress along and complete the spiritual path. Gen Kelsang Chokga presents Buddha's teachings as she helps everyone to follow the path to inner peace.

26. Typical interior of a temple in Korea

27. The Tripitaka The formal term for a Buddhist canon of scriptures. Many different versions of the canon have existed throughout the Buddhist world, containing an enormous variety of texts. The Tripitaka Koreana has been preserved in impeccable condition since 1251 C.E. comprises 6,802 volumes under 1,511 titles, including the latest writings by eminent Korean monks as well.

29. Fat happy Buddha