Question: “If someone asks me what Buddhism is what should I say?”
The question What is Buddhism? is unfortunately one of the most difficult questions to answer, because there are so many answers depending on where and who you ask. My Teacher always says, “Buddhism is the religion of love, of loving-kindness, and loving-compassion.” That’s pretty much the jist of it. That’s what Buddhism centers around: compassion. Some of the other pieces of the Buddhist pie include meditation, wisdom, and concentration. Buddhism is a religion, a philosophy, a way of life. It is spirituality, science, liberal arts, music, and ethic. The Buddha taught his followers about hygiene, proper nutrition, micro and macro-management. He told us about the millions and billions and infinite before it was “created.” Most importantly, Buddhism teaches us to wash away the dust in our eyes that causes us to be ignorant, delusional, angry, greedy, and attached to worldly things.
Buddhism is the practice of eradicating ignorance, greed, and anger so we may liberate ourselves from those poisons and live a life that is free, peaceful, and no longer in the cycle of Samsara (the cycle of rebirth and death). By practicing the Eightfold Path, we can live a compassionate and happy life while walking the path towards liberation.
Smile and be well!