¡¡¡¡ Buddhism (·ð½Ì) is a system of religion inaugurated in the 6th century BC by Siddhartha Gautama (563-483 BC), also known as Shakyamuni (ÊÍåÈIJÄá)£¬called Buddha£¨·ðÍÓ£©. Believers of Buddhism are called Buddhists. Buddhism's earliest doctrines were based on the Four Nobel Truths: (1) Life is suffering; (2) The cause of suffering is "birth sin," or craving and desire; (3) Suffering can be ended only by Nirvana , the extinguishment of desire; (4) This can be accomplished by the Eightfold Path to righteousness: right views, right intentions, right speech, right conduct, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right meditation. Buddhism spread rapidly from India to surrounding countries and took permanent hold in Ceylon, China and Japan. Numerous sects and variant teachings exist in Buddhism, ranging from highly academic and abstract doctrines to simple salvation.

A Buddhist Temple in Hawaii
 
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