History

Buddhism pre-dates many other faiths, having been founded almost 2500 years ago.  It was founded in India by Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha).

Siddhartha Gautama was a rich warrior's son who left home after the suffering of the people was shown to him, and studied under a number of teachers who practiced self-mortification and deprivation.  Realising, however, that such extreme religious practices were no better than the extreme luxury that he had previously enjoyed, Siddharta decided to seek the middle way, and after meditation, achieved enlightenment and became The Buddha (which means "he who is awake") at the age of thirty-five.. He taught his "middle way" in India for another forty-five years before his death.

Today there are two main varieties of Buddhism - Therevada and Mahayana, but these groups, and sub-groups, follow many of the fundamental teachings in common, and there is little friction.

Beliefs

Buddhists do not believe in a personal God or Gods, or of Heaven and Hell and a Saviour.  Personal spiritual and  moral enlightenment is the mainstay of the faith, with this leading eventually to Enlightenment, a state beyond human suffering.

Buddhism is tolerant of other faiths and religions and believes that all life is connected.

Buddhists believe that all actions have consequences and that our present lives are based on past actions - this is called Karma.

Buddhists avoid killing or harming any living thing.

Buddhists believe that alcohol and drugs prevent clarity of consciousness.

Buddhists believe in rebirth (reincarnation).

Worship can be conducted either at a temple or at home.

Locally

There is a Buddhist Centre in Blackburn which can be found online at http://www.geocities.com/fwboeastlancs/

There is also a Mahayana Buddhist Centre in Preston, at http://www.vajravarahi.freeserve.co.uk/

Links

The official Buddhism website can be found at http://buddhanet.net