Buddhism is a world religion with a historical founder, Prince Siddhartha Gautama. He is thought to have lived between 563вc and 483вс. Buddhism, like Hinduism, teaches that reincarnation (a cycle of death and rebirth) is based on karma (acts or deeds). When Buddha became ‘enlightened’, he achieved a blissful state known as nirvana. In so doing he eliminated the causes and cycle of rebirth. The Buddhist doctrine contains ‘Four Noble Truths’ and the ‘Noble Eightfold Path. The Four Noble Truths state the following:

• To exist is to suffer
• Suffering is caused by attachment
• Suffering ceases once attachment ceases
• There is a ‘way’ to end suffering

The Eightfold Path Involves:

• Right speech
• Right livelihood
• Right action
• Right effort
• Right mindfulness
• Right concentration
• Right opinion
• Right intention.