Is Buddhism a religion or philosophy?
Buddhism is a set of teachings often described as a religion.[1] Many recent scholars regard it as a plurality rather than a single entity.[2] As with other religions,[3] some Buddhists claim that Buddhism is not a religion. Some say it is a body of philosophies influenced by the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, known as Gautama Buddha.[4] Others say it is teachings to guide one to directly experiencing reality.[5][6] Buddhism is also known as Buddha Dharma or Dhamma, which means roughly the “teachings of the Awakened One” in Sanskrit and Pali, languages of ancient Buddhist texts. Buddhism began around 5th century BC with the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, who was born Ancient India, and is hereafter referred to as “the Buddha.
