Buddhism is one of the oldest religions still practiced today. It is also one of the most popular, ranking 4th in the world with more than 350 million followers. Yet few people know what Buddhism is actually about. Many have seen the Westernized perception of a Buddhist; a monk, splitting his time equally meditating and pummelling his foes using advanced kung-fu. But this is just a misconception. There is much more to Buddhism than meditation, and any violence goes against the basic principles of the Buddha.
This webpage is designed to help demistify this ancient religion. Here you will find brief history of Buddhism, beginning with its founding in India and documenting its spread to the rest of Asia and eventually the world. An outline of the customs and beliefs of a Buddhist are provided to help illustrate what this religion is all about, including a comparison of the various schools of Buddhism that have developed. Finally, links are provided for those who want more information, from basic info sites to home pages for various sects of Buddhism. I hope this web site will teach you something about this fascinating religion.