Welcome to Gaia! ::

I haven't studied much of the original. I'm assuming it was really close to other newly sprung vedic religions at the time.

I do remember, though, about this guy I learned about in my world architecture class. His name was Asoka. The legend goes he was a ruthless warmongering ruler, and then one day he looked around and said, "What have I done?" And then he started down the path of Buddhism and became a great, peaceful ruler. I found the story pretty awesome. I don't know why.

Also, I admire the guy from an artistic point of view. He had thousands of Buddhist monuments built, including the Great Stupa at Sanchi.

This is one of the many things I find fascinating about Buddhism. You can read more about Asoka here.

sweatdrop So that's what I think.

You mean emporer Ashoka? I suppose it depends on the translation of how you spell it sweatdrop

Buddhism isn't really a religion, as there isn't a god. Although some followers of the mahayana tradition believe the bodhisattvas (those who have been englightened and died) reside in celestial realms as sort of guides. But it depends a lot on the type of buddhism.

It was set up by the buddha as a reaction against the brahminical religions, and the unjustness of the caste system etc. Basically, the idea was that you could achieve enlightenment in this life rather than wait for some sort of salvation when dead.

I study buddhism for AS level philosophy, if you want to ask me any more about it, it might count as revision seeing as though I have an exam on a module on it in june xD

I checked Buddhism out. It's more of a self-help program than anything. Yes, it requires you go to church and pay respects to the Buddha, but really, I think that's a small price to pay for a religion that places emphasis on bettering oneself as a person.

I would just like to interject something for us all to laugh at --

My crazy substitute teacher for PE is a buddhist and my redneck classmates were questioning him about it. They all got very upset that he "worshiped some statue" and "believed in some fat guy". These guys whom I know get drunk and have sex nearly every weekend got all defensive and started going on and on about how God is the only god and everything. It was horrible to watch.