Is buddhism a philosophy or religion?
Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices, considered by most to be a religion, but not by all. A Buddhist is one who takes refuge in The Three Jewels: the Buddha (the Awakened One), the Dharma (the Teaching of the Buddha) and the Sangha (the Community of Buddhists). Depending on the source, the number of Buddhists in the world ranges from 230 million to 500 million. Most Buddhists live in Asia, but adherents are found worldwide. Buddhism is based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as “Buddha”, who lived in the northeastern region of the Indian subcontinent. He probably died around 400 BCE. Buddhists recognize him as an awakened teacher who shared his insights to help sentient beings end their suffering by understanding the true nature of phenomena, thereby escaping the cycle of suffering and rebirth (saṃsāra). Among the methods various schools of Buddhism apply towards this goal are: ethical conduct and altruistic behaviour, devotional practices, ritual and the
