Buddhism is one of the world's major religions, followed by hundreds of millions of people, mostly in Asia. It began about 2,500 years ago with a man named Siddhartha Gautama, who became known as the Buddha, meaning “the awakened one.”

The Buddha taught that suffering is part of life, but that people can find peace and happiness by living mindfully, treating others with compassion, and letting go of selfish desires. Unlike many religions, Buddhism doesn't focus on worshiping a god. Instead, it emphasizes meditation, which means training your mind to be calm and focused, and following ethical principles like not harming others and being truthful.

Buddhists believe in reincarnation, the idea that after death, a person is reborn into a new life. They also believe in karma, which means that your actions have consequences: good actions lead to good outcomes, and harmful actions lead to suffering. The ultimate goal in Buddhism is to reach nirvana, a state of perfect peace and freedom from suffering.

You'll find Buddhist temples and monasteries throughout Asia, where monks in robes practice meditation and study Buddhist teachings. Buddhism has influenced art, philosophy, and culture worldwide, and many people today practice Buddhist meditation techniques even if they follow different religions.