Buddhism 01

This KS3 RE quiz takes a look at Buddhism. The Dalai Lama is a spiritual leader of Buddhism. Buddhism is one of the most populous religions in the world, with approximately half a billion followers. The 2011 Census for England and Wales recorded 248,000 Buddhists, with 13,000 recorded in the Scottish census of the same year.

Buddhism is an ancient religion, which focusses on the path to Enlightenment, or nirvana, in which suffering and evil are overcome. Unlike most other religions, Buddhism does not believe in a personal God or gods. Until achieving enlightenment, a person lives through cycles of birth and rebirth, always subject to the laws of karma. Meditation and mindfulness are key to breaking free from the negative thoughts and habits to which a person has been conditioned. "Karmic conditioning" refers to those habits and patterns of thought built up over time. These can either be good or harmful. To Buddhists, all life is interconnected and therefore compassion is extremely important.