View source for Buddhists

{{Short description|Adherents of Buddhism}}
{{infobox religious group
| group         = Buddhists
| image         = Sermon in the Deer Park depicted at Wat Chedi Liem-KayEss-1.jpeg
| caption       = [[Buddha]]'s sermon in the [[Sarnath]] depicted at [[Wat Chedi Liam]], near [[Chiang Mai]], Thailand
| population    = {{circa}} '''320 million''' <br /> (4.1% of the global population){{decrease}}<br /> (Worldwide, 2025 est.)<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |last1=Hackett |first1=Conrad |last2=Stonawski |first2=Marcin |last3=Tong |first3=Yunping |last4=Kramer |first4=Stephanie |last5=Shi |first5=Anne |last6=Fahmy |first6=Dalia |date=2025-06-09 |title=How the Global Religious Landscape Changed From 2010 to 2020 |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2025/06/09/how-the-global-religious-landscape-changed-from-2010-to-2020/ |access-date=2025-06-10 |website=Pew Research Center |language=en-US}}</ref>
| founder       = [[Siddhartha Gautama|The Buddha]]<ref>{{cite book |last=Gethin |first=Rupert |title=The Foundations of Buddhism |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=1998 |isbn=9780192892232}}</ref>
| scriptures    = [[Tripiṭaka]] (Pāli Canon), [[Mahayana sutras]], [[Vajrayana#Texts|Vajrayana texts]]
<!--Ten largest Buddhist nations, nominal figures.-->
| region1 = {{flagicon|China}} [[China]]
| pop1 = 80,000,000
| ref1 = <ref>{{Cite web |last=Nadeem |first=Reem |date=2023-08-30 |title=Buddhism |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2023/08/30/buddhism/ |access-date=2025-10-23 |website=Pew Research Center |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-09-21 |title=6 facts about Buddhism in China |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/09/21/6-facts-about-buddhism-in-china/ |access-date=2025-10-23 |website=Pew Research Center |language=en-US}}</ref>

| region2 = {{flagicon|Thailand}} [[Thailand]]
| pop2 = 64,000,000
| ref2 = <ref>{{cite web |last=Swearer |first=Donald K. |title=The Buddhist World of Southeast Asia |publisher=State University of New York Press |year=2010 |url=https://www.sunypress.edu/the-buddhist-world-of-southeast-asia |access-date=14 October 2025}}</ref>
| region3 = {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Japan]]
| pop3 = 46,000,000
| ref3 = <ref name ="shukyo23">{{cite web|url=https://www.bunka.go.jp/tokei_hakusho_shuppan/hakusho_nenjihokokusho/shukyo_nenkan/pdf/r05nenkan.pdf#page=65|title=文化庁 宗教年鑑 令和5年版|page=51|publisher=[[Agency for Cultural Affairs]]|date=2023-12-28|access-date=2024-03-17}}</ref>


| region4 = {{flagicon|Myanmar}} [[Myanmar]]
| pop4 = 48,000,000
| ref4 = <ref>{{cite web |last=Steinberg |first=David I. |title=Burma/Myanmar: What Everyone Needs to Know |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2013 |url=https://globalreligionsdata.org/myanmar-buddhists |access-date=14 October 2025}}</ref>

| region5 = {{flagicon|Sri Lanka}} [[Sri Lanka]]
| pop5 = 15,000,000
| ref5 = <ref>{{cite web |last=Robinson |first=Richard |title=Buddhism in Modern Asia |publisher=Routledge |year=2020 |url=https://www.routledge.com/buddhism-sri-lanka |access-date=14 October 2025}}</ref>

| region6 = {{flagicon|Vietnam}} [[Vietnam]]
| pop6 = 14,000,000
| ref6 = <ref>{{cite web|title=Vietnam’s religious diversity: 17 faiths granted legal status |url=https://vietnamnet.vn/en/vietnam-s-religious-diversity-17-faiths-granted-legal-status-2423743.html |publisher=vietnamnet |access-date=15 October 2025}}</ref>
| region7 = {{flagicon|Cambodia}} [[Cambodia]]
| pop8 = 13,690,000
| ref8 = <ref>{{cite web |last=Chandler |first=David P. |title=A History of Cambodia |publisher=Westview Press |year=2000 |url=https://www.westviewpress.com/history-of-cambodia |access-date=14 October 2025}}</ref>
| region8 = {{flagicon|South Korea}} [[South Korea]]
| pop7 = 11,000,000
| ref7 = <ref name=":7">{{Cite web |title=The Future of World Religions |url=https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2015/03/PF_15.04.02_ProjectionsFullReport.pdf |website=PewResearchCenter}}</ref>

| region9 = {{flagicon|Nepal}} [[Nepal]]
| pop10 = 2,393,549
| ref10 = <ref name=":7" />
| region10 = {{flagicon|India}} [[India]]
| pop9 = 9,250,000
| ref9 = <ref name=":7" />


| languages     = {{Plainlist|
* '''Predominant spoken languages:''' Pāli, Sanskrit, Tibetan, Chinese, Japanese, Khmer, Burmese, Sinhala, Thai, Vietnamese
}}
'''Sacred languages:'''<br />{{Hlist|[[Pāli]]|[[Sanskrit]]|[[Tibetan language|Tibetan]]|[[Classical Chinese]]|[[Japanese language|Japanese]]}}
| religions     = [[Theravāda Buddhism]] (≈35%)<br />[[Mahayana Buddhism]] (≈55%)<br />[[Vajrayana Buddhism]] (≈10%)
|flag=Dharma Wheel Rotating.svg|flag_size=100px|image_size=250px}}
{{Buddhism}}
'''Buddhists''' ({{Audio|De-Buddhist.ogg|<small>listen</small>}}) are people who adhere to [[Buddhism]], a religious and philosophical tradition founded by [[The Buddha|Siddhartha Gautama]] (the Buddha) in the 5th–4th century BCE in [[India]]. Buddhist identity can be religious, cultural, or secular, encompassing [[monasticism|monastic]] practitioners, lay followers, and individuals who adopt meditation and ethical practices without formal rituals.<ref name=":0" />

The term originates from the Sanskrit word Bauddha (बौद्ध), meaning "follower of the Buddha", which itself is derived from [[Buddha]] ([[बुद्ध]]), meaning "the Awakened One."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sanskrit term for a Buddhist |url=https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/22396/sanskrit-term-for-a-buddhist |website=Buddhism Stack Exchange}}</ref> In ancient India, followers of the Buddha identified themselves as [[Sakyans]] (Sakyabhiksu), derived from the name of the Buddha's clan, the Sakyas.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Buddhist History |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Buddhism |website=Britannica}}</ref> The English term [[Buddhist]] emerged in the early 19th century, combining [[Buddha]] with the suffix "-ist," denoting a follower or adherent. The first recorded use of Buddhist in [[English language|English]] was in 1810.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Buddhist |url=https://www.etymonline.com/word/Buddhist |website=Etymology Online}}</ref> In descending order, the percentage of people who identify as Buddhists on each continental landmass stands at: the vast majority (about 98%) in [[Asia]] and the [[Pacific]], around 1% in [[Europe]], and less than 1% in [[Africa]], [[Oceania]], and the [[Americas]] collectively.<ref name=":5" />

Additionally, in subdivided geographical regions, the figure stands at approximately 93% in [[East Asia]], 67% in [[Southeast Asia]], and 29% in [[South Asia]].<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=Religion in Asia-Pacific Region |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2015/04/02/buddhists/ |website=Pew Research Center |access-date=15 October 2025}}</ref> While there are several [[Schools of Buddhism|Buddhist schools and traditions]], as well as [[Secular Buddhism|non-denominational Buddhists]], the two largest traditions are [[Theravāda Buddhism]] (predominantly in [[Sri Lanka]], [[Thailand]], [[Myanmar]], [[Cambodia]], and [[Laos]]) and [[Mahayana Buddhism]] (predominantly in [[China]], [[Japan]], [[Korea]], and [[Vietnam]]).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Buddhism |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Buddhism |website=Encyclopædia Britannica |access-date=15 October 2025}}</ref>

There are about 320 million Buddhists, who comprise 4.1% of the global population.<ref name="auto"/> It is the only major religion to have declined massively in the last decade, particularly due to growing irreligion in East Asia.<ref name=":52">{{Cite web |last=Fahmy |first=Conrad Hackett, Marcin Stonawski, Yunping Tong, Stephanie Kramer, Anne Shi and Dalia |date=2025-06-09 |title=Buddhist population change |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2025/06/09/buddhist-population-change/ |access-date=2025-10-28 |website=Pew Research Center |language=en-US}}</ref> However, it has grown in influence in [[Western countries]] due to increasing interest in [[meditation]] and [[mindfulness]] practices.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Growth of Buddhism and Meditation Practices in the West |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2019/11/21/u-s-religious-landscape-study/ |access-date=15 October 2025 |website=Pew Research Center}}</ref> By sheer numbers, [[China]] accounts for the largest portion of the global Buddhist population, followed by [[Thailand]] and [[Japan]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Global Distribution of Buddhists |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2012/12/18/global-religious-landscape-buddhist/ |website=Pew Research Center |access-date=15 October 2025}}</ref> Outside of Buddhist-majority countries, significant populations are found in [[India]] and the [[United States]].<ref name=":52" />

== Etymology ==
The word "Buddhist" is derived from "Buddha", meaning "the awakened one", and was first used in English in the early 19th century to describe followers of the Buddha. In local contexts, early Indian practitioners were called ''[[Sramana]]s'' (ascetics) or ''Shramaneras'' (novice monks), emphasizing renunciation and ethical practice.<ref name=":0">{{cite book |last=Gethin |first=Rupert |title=The Foundations of Buddhism |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=1998 |isbn=978-0192892232 |pages=23–25}}</ref> With the spread of Buddhism across Asia, terms like ''Fo-zu'' (China), ''Bukkyōsha'' (Japan), and ''Chos-pa'' (Tibet) came into use, reflecting local languages and cultural adaptations.<ref name=":1">{{cite book |last=Buswell |first=Robert E. |title=The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism |publisher=Princeton University Press |year=2014 |isbn=978-1400848058 |pages=115}}</ref>

== Terminology ==
{{Quote box
 | quote  = Monks, even if bandits were to carve you up savagely into pieces with a two-handled saw, he among you who let his heart get angered even at that would not be [a Buddhist].
 | author = [[The Buddha|Buddha]]
 | source = ''Kakacūpama Sutta ([[Majjhima Nikāya|MN]] 21)''{{sfn|Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu MN 21}}
 | width  = 25%
 | align  = right
}}

The term "Buddhist" is used broadly to describe anyone who follows the teachings of the [[Buddha]], regardless of specific school or region. While the umbrella term "Buddhist" is widely recognized in [[English language]] and other [[European languages]], historical and regional variations exist. In early [[India]]n texts, practitioners were often called ''[[Sramana]]s'', meaning ascetics, or ''[[Shramana]]s'' (novice monks), highlighting their focus on [[ethics|ethical conduct]], [[meditation]], and [[renunciation]].<ref name=":0" />  

With the spread of [[Buddhism]] across [[Asia]], different terms emerged to reflect local languages and traditions. In [[China]], followers were known as ''Fo-zu'' (Buddha followers) or ''Fanfo'' (foreign Buddha).<ref name=":1" /> In [[Japan]], they were called ''Bukkyōsha'' (practitioners of the Buddha's teachings).<ref name=":3">{{cite book |last=Williams |first=Paul |title=Buddhism: The Early Buddhist Schools and the Mahayana Traditions |publisher=[[Routledge]] |year=2005 |isbn=9780415332262 |pages=14–16}}</ref> [[Tibet]]an and [[Himalayas|Himalayan]] communities use the term ''Chos-pa'' to denote those following the [[Dharma (Buddhism)|Dharma]].<ref name=":2">{{cite book |last=Gyatso |first=Tenzin |title=An Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |year=1998 |isbn=978-1559392822 |pages=7–9}}</ref>  

Additionally, within Buddhist schools, specific identifiers exist: [[Theravada]] Buddhists follow the [[Pāli Canon]] and [[Vinaya]] (monastic discipline) primarily in [[Southeast Asia]]; [[Mahayana]] Buddhists follow a diverse set of [[Mahayana sutras]] and emphasize the [[Bodhisattva]] path, particularly in [[East Asia]]; and [[Vajrayana]] Buddhists engage in [[Esoteric Buddhism|esoteric practices]] and rituals found mainly in [[Tibet]], [[Bhutan]], and [[Mongolia]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Harvey |first=Peter |title=An Introduction to Buddhism: Teachings, History and Practices |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2013 |isbn=978-0-521-85942-4 |pages=5–8}}</ref>  

Modern usage of the term "Buddhist" encompasses both traditional religious practitioners and secular individuals who adopt aspects of [[Buddhist philosophy]], [[meditation]], and [[ethics|ethical teachings]] without necessarily adhering to [[rituals]] or [[Monasticism|monastic life]].<ref name="auto1">{{cite book |last=Lopez |first=Donald S. Jr. |title=Buddhism and Science: A Guide for the Perplexed |isbn=0226306821 }}</ref>

== History of Buddhist identity ==
[[File:004 Daily Life (9140818127).jpg|thumb|Artwork depicting the scenes of Buddhists' daily life, [[Tumpat District|Tumpat]], Malaysia]]
[[Buddhist]] identity has evolved over more than two [[Millennium|millennia]], shaped by religious, cultural, and political contexts. In its earliest stages in [[India]], followers were identified primarily as ''[[Sramana]]s''—ascetics committed to [[meditation]], [[ethics|ethical living]], and renunciation—rather than as "Buddhists."<ref name=":0" /> After the [[Buddha]]'s death, [[Buddhist monasticism|Buddhist communities]] organized around [[vihara]]s, and identity was often tied to adherence to the [[Vinaya]] (monastic code) and the [[Pāli Canon]] or [[Sanskrit]] scriptures.<ref>{{cite book |last=Dangol |first=Purusottam |title=Elements of Buddhist Stupa Architecture |publisher=Adroit Publishers |year=2024 |isbn=978-8196559687}}</ref>  

As [[Buddhism]] spread beyond India along [[Silk Road|trade routes]] to [[Central Asia]], [[East Asia]], and [[Southeast Asia]], regional and cultural adaptations influenced the formation of distinct Buddhist identities. In [[China]], Buddhism integrated with [[Confucianism]] and [[Daoism]], leading to the emergence of [[Mahayana]] traditions, while in [[Tibet]], [[Vajrayana]] practices became central, creating a [[Tibetan Buddhism|Tibetan Buddhist]] identity that combined religious, cultural, and political elements.<ref name=":2" /> In [[Southeast Asia]], [[Theravada]] Buddhism became closely linked with national identity in countries such as [[Thailand]], [[Myanmar]], and [[Sri Lanka]], where kings and governments historically patronized [[Buddhist monasteries|monasteries]] and promoted [[Buddhist ethics|moral]] and social values.<ref name=":4">{{cite book |last=Swearer |first=Donald K. |title=The Buddhist World of Southeast Asia |publisher=[[State University of New York Press]] |year=2010 |isbn=978-1438432502 |pages=45–50}}</ref>  

During [[colonialism|colonial periods]], European scholars and administrators began to categorize followers of Buddhism as "Buddhists," standardizing the term in global discourse. This classification sometimes contrasted with local identities, which were often based on [[ethnicity]], [[region]], or monastic affiliation rather than the broad religious label.<ref name=":1" /> In the modern era, Buddhist identity can be [[religion|religious]], cultural, or even secular, encompassing traditional [[Buddhist monasticism|monastic practitioners]], lay devotees, and individuals who adopt [[meditation]] and [[Buddhist ethics|ethical practices]] without participating in formal [[rituals]].<ref name="auto1"/>
==Origin==
[[File:071 Lay and Monastics Worship the Buddha.jpg|thumb|Lay devotees and monastics paying homage to the [[The Buddha|Buddha]]]]
[[File:Buddhist_Monk_at_Angkor_Wat_1.jpg|thumb|Buddhist monks at [[Angkor Wat]], a significant Buddhist site in Cambodia]]
The origins of Buddhists as a distinct community can be traced to the northeastern [[Indian subcontinent]] during the 6th to 4th centuries BCE, a period marked by social transformation, urbanisation, and philosophical inquiry. Early followers of the [[The Buddha|Buddha]] formed both monastic and lay communities, embracing his teachings on the [[Middle Way]], [[Four Noble Truths]], and [[Noble Eightfold Path]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Buddhism/Historical-Development |title=Buddhism – Historical development |website=Encyclopædia Britannica |access-date=4 November 2025}}</ref>  

Early Buddhists included members of the [[Shakya]] clan, merchants, peasants, and other ascetic seekers, who were drawn to the Buddha's teachings as an alternative to ritualistic and hierarchical [[Pali canon]] traditions. The monastic community, or [[Sangha]], became central to Buddhist identity. Monks and nuns observed the [[Vinaya]] (monastic code) and acted as custodians of the teachings, while lay Buddhists supported the Sangha through donations and practiced ethical precepts and meditation.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.idp.bl.uk/learning/buddhism-on-the-silk-roads/articles/about-buddhism/the-origins-of-buddhism/ |title=The Origins of Buddhism |website=International Dunhuang Programme |access-date=4 November 2025}}</ref>  

Royal patronage, particularly by the [[Maurya Empire|Mauryan]] emperor [[Ashoka]] (c. 268–232 BCE), facilitated the growth of Buddhists beyond India. Ashoka sponsored the construction of [[stupas]], monasteries, and educational institutions, and dispatched missionaries to [[Sri Lanka]], [[Central Asia]], and [[Southeast Asia]]. His edicts promoted non-violence ([[ahimsa]]), compassion, and religious tolerance, which helped solidify a communal Buddhist identity.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theindosphere.com/religion/buddhism-explained/ |title=Buddhism: Origins, Development and Schools |website=The Indosphere |access-date=4 November 2025}}</ref>  

As Buddhism spread, distinct regional traditions and schools of thought developed, influencing the cultural and religious identity of Buddhists. [[Theravāda Buddhism]] became established in [[Sri Lanka]] and Southeast Asia, emphasizing Pāli Canon study and monastic discipline, while [[Mahayana Buddhism]] flourished in [[China]], [[Korea]], [[Japan]], and [[Tibet]], incorporating local practices, devotional rituals, and philosophical innovations.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Mahayana |title=Mahayana Buddhism |website=Encyclopædia Britannica |access-date=4 November 2025}}</ref>  

Buddhist identity has historically been expressed through ethical conduct, meditation, communal rituals, art, and architecture. Monasteries functioned as centers of learning, cultural preservation, and social welfare. Over time, Buddhist identity adapted to local cultures while retaining core teachings, allowing communities to survive periods of persecution, political change, and migration.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sociology.institute/sociology-of-religion/buddhism-historical-development-influence-india/ |title=Buddhism's Historical Development and Influence in India |website=Sociology Institute |access-date=4 November 2025}}</ref>  

Buddhists began to influence [[Western world|Western]] thought during the 19th and 20th centuries, particularly through the translation of [[Buddhist texts]], scholarly study, and the interest of philosophers, psychologists, and writers. Western adherents often emphasize meditation, mindfulness, and ethical principles over ritual practice, reflecting a philosophical or secular approach to Buddhist identity.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/buddhism-western-philosophy/ |title=Buddhism and Western Philosophy |website=Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy |access-date=4 November 2025}}</ref>  

In the 20th century, the establishment of Buddhist centers and monasteries in Europe and [[North America]] helped form new Buddhist communities. Figures such as [[Dalai Lama]],  [[Thich Nhat Hanh]] and [[Chögyam Trungpa]] contributed to the adaptation of Buddhist teachings in Western cultural contexts, emphasizing mindfulness, meditation, and socially [[engaged Buddhism]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Buddhism/Spread-of-Buddhism |title=Spread of Buddhism |website=Encyclopædia Britannica |access-date=4 November 2025}}</ref>  Western Buddhists often integrate Buddhist practices with psychology, health, and well-being initiatives, including [[Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction]] (MBSR) and related programs. This modern interpretation has led to a pluralistic and globalized Buddhist identity, combining traditional spiritual teachings with secular ethical and meditative practices.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Palumbo |first1=L. |last2=MacInska |first2=S. T. |last3=Jellema |first3=T. |title=Mindfulness in Western Contexts |journal=Frontiers in Psychology |date=2018 |volume=9 |page=1918 |doi=10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01918 |pmid=30374318 |pmc=6196264 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

==Demographics==
[[File:Countries by percentage Buddhist–Pew Research 2010.svg|thumb|300px|Percentage of Buddhists by country, according to the [[Pew Research Center]], 2010|alt=China40.5/]]
As of 2025, there are approximately 520 million Buddhist worldwide, representing about 6.6% of the global population.<ref>{{cite book |last=Johnson |first=Philip |title=World Religions in Figures |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |year=2022 |isbn=978-0470674543 |pages=45}}</ref> The majority of Buddhists reside in [[Asia]], with significant populations in [[China]], [[Thailand]], [[Japan]], [[Myanmar]], [[Sri Lanka]], and [[Vietnam]]. China is home to the largest number of Buddhists, estimated at 244 million, including both practicing [[Buddhist monks|monks]] and lay followers who observe Buddhist customs and [[Buddhist rituals]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Robinson |first=Richard |title=Buddhism in Modern Asia |publisher=Routledge |year=2020 |isbn=9780521859424 |pages=12–15}}</ref>  

[[Southeast Asia]] has substantial Buddhist populations, with [[Thailand]] accounting for approximately 64 million, [[Myanmar]] 38 million, [[Sri Lanka]] 15 million, and [[Vietnam]] 14 million.<ref name=":4" /> [[East Asia]] also has significant Buddhist communities, including [[Japan]] with around 45 million followers and [[South Korea]] with about 11 million adherents.<ref name=":3" />  

[[Buddhism]] is practiced by people of diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds.<ref>{{cite web |last=Powers |first=John |date=2007 |title=Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism |url=https://www.snowlionpub.com/collections/frontpage/products/introduction-to-tibetan-buddhism |access-date=2025-10-16 |website=[[Snow Lion Publications]] |publisher=Snow Lion Publications}}</ref> In [[South Asia]], Buddhists are predominantly found among the [[Sinhalese people|Sinhalese]] in [[Sri Lanka]], the [[Bamar people|Bamar]] in [[Myanmar]], and various minority groups in [[India]] and [[Bangladesh]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Tikhonov |first=Vladimir Brekke |date=2019 |title=Buddhism and Violence: Militarism and Buddhism in Modern Asia |url=https://www.routledge.com/Buddhism-and-Violence-Militarism-and-Buddhism-in-Modern-Asia/Tikhonov-Brekke/p/book/9781138921894 |access-date=2025-10-16 |website=Routledge }}</ref> In [[East Asia]] and [[Southeast Asia]], [[Chinese people|Chinese]], [[Japanese people|Japanese]], [[Vietnamese people|Vietnamese]], [[Thai people|Thai]], and other ethnic groups maintain Buddhist traditions.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Samuels |first1=Jeffrey; McDaniel |last2=Henry |first2=Justin Thomas |last3=St. |first3=Mark Michael |date=2013 |title=Figures of Buddhist Modernity in Asia |publisher=[[University of Hawaii Press]] |isbn=978-0824858544 }}</ref> Outside [[Asia]], the global Buddhist population includes converts and practitioners in [[Europe]], [[North America]], [[Australia]], and other regions, reflecting a growing secular or meditation-oriented form of Buddhist identity.<ref>{{cite web |last=Lopez |first=Donald S. Jr. |title=Buddhism in the West |url=https://www.buddhisminamerica.org |access-date=14 October 2025}}</ref>

== Culture ==
{{Main|Buddhist culture}}
[[File:Yee Peng Sansai Thailand, Buddhist culture religion rites rituals sights.jpg|thumb|260px|Buddhism ceremony celebrated with [[sky lanterns]], Thailand]]
[[Buddhist culture]] encompasses a wide range of practices, beliefs, artistic expressions, and social institutions that have developed over more than two millennia. Central to [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] culture are [[monasticism|monastic communities]], [[Meditation|meditation practices]], [[Ethics|ethical conduct]], and [[Ritual|ritual observances]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Rhys Davids |first=T.W. |title=Introduction to Pali Literature |url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/bud/pali.htm |publisher=Sacred Texts |year=1903 |access-date=2025-11-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Gombrich |first=R. |title=Theravāda Buddhism: A Social History |publisher=Routledge |year=1988 |isbn=0415029451 }}</ref> [[Monastery|Monasteries]] serve as centers of learning, spiritual guidance, and community service, often playing an important role in [[Education]], [[Healthcare]], and social welfare in [[List of Buddhists|Buddhist-majority countries]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Gethin |first=Rupert |title=The Foundations of Buddhism |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=1998 |isbn=978-0192892232 |pages=45–50}}</ref>

[[Buddhist literature]] includes canonical texts such as the [[Pāli Canon]], [[Mahayana sutras]], and commentaries, which provide guidance on philosophy, ethics, meditation, and ritual. Local traditions have produced extensive literature in [[Sanskrit]], [[Tibetan language|Tibetan]], [[Chinese language|Chinese]], [[Japanese language|Japanese]], and other languages.<ref name=":1" /> [[Meditation]] practices, including [[Mindfulness|mindfulness (sati)]], [[Samadhi|concentration (samadhi)]], and [[Vipassana]] (insight), form an essential part of daily life for many Buddhists, whether monastic or lay, and have influenced global secular [[Mindfulness|mindfulness movements]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Lopez |first=Donald S. Jr. |title=Buddhism and Meditation |url=https://www.buddhismtoday.com/meditation |access-date=14 October 2025}}</ref>

Buddhist culture also emphasizes [[Compassion]], [[Ahimsa|nonviolence]], and ethical living, often reflected in social and charitable activities.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Seneviratna |first1=Anuradha |title=Buddhist Monastic Architecture in Sri Lanka: The Woodland Shrines |last2=Polk |first2=Benjamin |publisher=Abhinav Publications |year=1992 |isbn=978-8170172819 |language=SL}}</ref> In many countries, Buddhist organizations provide humanitarian aid, educational programs, and disaster relief, integrating spiritual teachings with practical service to society.<ref name=":4" />

=== Buddhist festivals ===
{{Main|Buddhist festivals}}

Buddhist festivals are spiritual and cultural celebrations that commemorate important events in the life of the [[Gautama Buddha|Buddha]], honor his teachings ([[Dharma]]), and strengthen the Buddhist community ([[Sangha]]). While the dates and customs vary among different traditions—[[Theravāda]], [[Mahāyāna]], and [[Vajrayāna]]—all share a spirit of mindfulness, compassion, and gratitude.<ref>{{cite web |last= |first= |title=Full Moon Poya Days |url=https://www.srilanka.travel/poya-days |access-date=2025-10-17 |website=Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority}}</ref> Most are observed according to the lunar calendar and combine religious devotion with social harmony and acts of generosity.

==== Pan-Buddhist ====
The most widely observed Buddhist festival is [[Vesak]] (also known as Buddha Day or Buddha Purnima). It celebrates the birth, enlightenment, and [[Parinirvana|passing into Nirvana]] of [[Siddhartha Gautama]], the historical Buddha.<ref name="UNDay">{{Cite web|url=https://www.un.org/en/observances/vesak-day|title=Vesak Day|first=United|last=Nations|website=United Nations}}</ref> Observed on the full moon of the month of [[Vaisakha]] (April–May), Vesak is marked by visits to [[Buddhist temple|temples]], offering flowers and lamps, chanting, meditation, and acts of compassion and generosity.<ref>{{cite book |last=Gombrich |first=Richard |title=Theravāda Buddhism: A Social History from Ancient Benares to Modern Colombo |publisher=Routledge |year=1988 |isbn=978-0415365093}}</ref>

==== Theravāda ====
In the [[Theravada|Theravāda]] tradition, several full-moon festivals commemorate major events in the Buddha's life and teachings, as well as milestones in the monastic year. [[Magha Puja]] (Sangha Day), held on the full moon of [[Magha (month)|Magha]] (February–March), commemorates the spontaneous gathering of 1,250 [[Arahant|arahants]] to hear the Buddha's sermon on harmony and discipline.<ref>{{cite web |last= |first= |title=Magha Puja Day |url=https://www.thaigov.go.th/ |access-date=2025-10-17 |website=Thai Government Public Relations Department}}</ref> Devotees light candles, chant, and participate in meditation.

[[Asalha Puja]] (Dhamma Day), observed on the full moon of Asalha (July), marks the [[Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta|Buddha's first sermon]] at Deer Park in [[Sarnath]], known as the “Turning of the Wheel of Dharma.” It is a time for reflection on the [[Four Noble Truths]] and for making merit.<ref>{{cite book |last=King |first=Sallie B. |title=Buddhism and Festivals in Thailand |publisher=Silkworm Books |year=2019 |isbn=978-0824833510 |location=Bangkok}}</ref>

[[Vassa]], or the Rains Retreat, is a three-month monastic retreat beginning in July, during which [[Bhikkhu|monks]] remain in [[Vihara|monasteries]] for meditation and study. At the end of the retreat, on [[Pavāraṇā|Pavarana Day]], monks seek mutual forgiveness, and lay followers participate in the [[Kaṭhina|Kathina]] Ceremony, offering new robes and requisites to the [[Sangha]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vassa {{!}} Rituals, Practices & Significance {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/vassa |access-date=2025-10-17 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref>

Regional Theravāda observances include [[Poson|Poson Poya]] in [[Sri Lanka]], marking the introduction of Buddhism to the island by [[Mahinda (Buddhist monk)|Arahant Mahinda Thera]], and the [[Thadingyut Festival]] of Lights in [[Myanmar]], which celebrates the Buddha's descent from [[Trāyastriṃśa|Tavatimsa Heaven]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Norbu |first=Thubten |title=Losar: Tibetan New Year Traditions |url=https://www.tibetanreview.net/losar |access-date=2025-10-17 |website=Tibetan Review}}</ref>

==== Mahāyāna ====
[[Mahayana|Mahāyāna Buddhism]] celebrates a number of festivals that emphasize the Buddha's spiritual milestones and the practice of compassion for all beings. [[Bodhi Day]], held on 8 December, commemorates the Buddha's enlightenment under the [[Bodhi Tree]] in [[Bodh Gaya]]. Devotees meditate, study [[Sutra|sutras]], and make offerings of tea, candles, and simple food.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ikeda |first=Reverend Earl |date=2019-12-09 |title=O Bodhi Tree, O Bodhi Tree |url=https://tricycle.org/article/bodhi-day/ |access-date=2025-10-17 |website=Tricycle: The Buddhist Review |language=en}}</ref>

[[Parinirvana Day]] (Nirvana Day), observed on 15 February, marks the Buddha's final passing into [[Nirvana]]. It is a time for meditation on [[Impermanence (Buddhism)|impermanence]] and for reading the ''[[Mahāyāna Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra|Mahāparinirvana Sūtra]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Berzin |first=Alexander |title=Bodhi Day and Its Significance in Mahayana Buddhism |url=https://studybuddhism.com |access-date=2025-10-17 |website=Study Buddhism}}</ref> [[Ullambana]], also known as [[Yulanpen]] in China and [[Obon]] in Japan, is held in July or August to honor ancestors and relieve the suffering of spirits. Inspired by the legend of [[Maudgalyayana]] saving his mother, people make offerings, light lanterns, and chant sutras.<ref>{{cite web |last= |first= |title=Vesak Day – Buddha's Birth, Enlightenment, and Parinirvana |url=https://www.ibc2015.com/vesak |access-date=2025-10-17 |website=International Buddhist Confederation}}</ref>

In Japan, the [[Buddha's Birthday|Hana Matsuri]] or “Flower Festival” on 8 April celebrates the Buddha's birth, when images of the infant Buddha are bathed in sweet tea. In China, the [[Laba Festival]], observed on the 8th day of the 12th lunar month (December–January), commemorates the Buddha's enlightenment with the preparation of ''[[Laba congee|Laba porridge]]'' and temple offerings.<ref>{{cite web |last= |first= |title=Bodhi Day – Celebrating the Buddha's Enlightenment |url=https://tricycle.org/article/bodhi-day/ |access-date=2025-10-17 |website=Tricycle: The Buddhist Review}}</ref>

==== Vajrayāna ====
In [[Vajrayana|Vajrayāna]], especially in [[Tibet]] and the Himalayan regions, festivals blend spiritual practice with rich cultural traditions. [[Losar]], the Tibetan New Year celebrated in February–March, marks a period of purification, renewal, and joy. Families clean their homes, perform rituals, and participate in community dances and celebrations.<ref>{{cite book |last=Earhart |first=H. Byron |title=Japanese Religion: Unity and Diversity |publisher=Wadsworth |year=2013 |isbn=978-1111343175}}</ref>

Saga Dawa Duchen, observed on the full moon of the fourth Tibetan month (May–June), commemorates the Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and [[parinirvana]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Dorje |first=Gyurme |title=Tibetan Festivals |publisher=Shambhala Publications |year=2009 |isbn=978-1590303927}}</ref> It is regarded as the holiest month in the Tibetan calendar, during which people undertake [[Pilgrimage|pilgrimages]], recite mantras, and engage in acts of generosity.<ref name="auto2">{{cite journal |last=Jorden |first=Anne |year=2015 |title=Obon Festival and Ancestor Worship in Japan |journal=Asian Folklore Studies |volume=74 |issue=2 |pages=123–145}}</ref> Chökhor Düchen, celebrated on the fourth day of the sixth Tibetan month (July–August), honors the “Turning of the Wheel of Dharma,” the Buddha's first teaching of the [[Four Noble Truths]]. Devotees engage in meditation, rituals, and Dharma recitations.<ref name="auto2"/>

== Persecution ==
{{Main|Persecution of Buddhists|Persecution of Buddhists in pre-Islamic Iran}}

[[File:The end of Buddhist Monks, A.D. 1193.jpg|thumb|The image, in the chapter on India in ''Hutchison's Story of the Nations'' edited by [[James Meston, 1st Baron Meston|James Meston]], depicts the Muslim Turkic general [[Muhammad Bakhtiyar Khalji|Muhammad Bakhtiyar Khilji]]'s massacre of Buddhist monks in Bihar. Khaliji destroyed the [[Nalanda mahavihara|Nalanda]] and [[Vikramashila]] universities during his raids across North Indian plains, massacring many Buddhist and [[Brahmin]] scholars.<ref name="Sanyal 130–1">{{cite book|last=Sanyal|first=Sanjeev|title=Land of seven rivers: History of India's Geography|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xu-O9eNmQXMC&pg=PT130|date=15 November 2012|publisher=Penguin Books Limited|isbn=978-81-8475-671-5|pages=130–1}}</ref>]]
Buddhists have faced persecution at various points in history, often due to political, religious, or ethnic conflicts. In [[India]], Buddhism declined after the 12th century, partly due to invasions by [[Muslim]] rulers and the destruction of [[monastery|monasteries]] and [[Nalanda University|universities]] such as [[Nalanda mahavihara|Nalanda]] and [[Vikramashila]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Keown |first=Damien |title=A Dictionary of Buddhism |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2004 |isbn=978-0198605607 |pages=254–256}}</ref> In [[Tibet]], the [[Chinese invasion of Tibet|Chinese invasion]] of 1950 led to the suppression of religious institutions, imprisonment of monks, and destruction of monasteries, causing a large-scale diaspora of [[Tibetan Buddhism|Tibetan Buddhists]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Smith |first=Evan |title=[[Tibet: A History]] |publisher=Yale University Press |year=1996 |isbn=978-0300154047 |pages=220–230}}</ref>

During the [[Khmer Rouge]] regime in [[Cambodia]] (1975–1979), [[Buddhism]] was targeted as a symbol of the old society; monks were defrocked, temples destroyed, and religious practice banned, resulting in the deaths of thousands of monks.<ref>{{cite book |last=Chandler |first=David P. |title=A History of Cambodia |publisher=Westview Press |year=2000 |isbn=978-0813343631 |pages=250–255}}</ref>

In modern times, Buddhists in countries like [[Bangladesh]], [[Pakistan]], and parts of [[Central Asia]] face discrimination and threats as minority communities.<ref>{{cite book |last=King |first=Sarah |title=Buddhism and Human Rights |publisher=Routledge |year=2011 |isbn=9780700709540 |pages=77–80}}</ref> Despite these challenges, Buddhist communities have often emphasized [[nonviolence]], resilience, and dialogue, reflecting core teachings of [[Compassion]] and tolerance while seeking protection of religious freedom and cultural heritage.<ref>{{cite book |last=Queen |first=Christopher S. |title=Engaged Buddhism in the West |publisher=[[Wisdom Publications]] |year=2000 |isbn=9780861718412 |pages=15–18}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{Portal|Buddhism}}
* [[Buddhism]]
* [[History of Buddhism]]
* [[List of Buddhists]]
* [[Buddhist devotion]]
* [[Buddhist philosophy]]
* [[Buddhist art]]
* [[Buddhist festivals]]

== References ==
<references />

=== Sources ===
* {{cite web |last=Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu |author-link=Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu |date=n.d. |title=MN 21 Kakacūpama Sutta |url=https://dhammatalks.org/suttas/MN/MN21.html |website=dhammatalks.org |translator-last=Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu |access-date=2025-01-01 |ref={{sfnref|Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu MN 21}}}}

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