Origin and Evolution
Buddhism emerged from the religious beliefs of Iron Age India during the 6th-4th centuries BCE. This was time of socio-cultural change, when the Upanishads contributed to the change in the historical Vedic faith and led to the appearance of Sramanic traditions (Eraly 538). Later, Buddhism spread through the territory of Asia, and after that it faced a slight decline in India in the middle age period.
The Symbol of Faith
Officially, the two symbols were adopted by the World Fellowship of Buddhists. These are the eight-spoked Dharma wheel and the five-colored flag (Freiberger).
Buddhist Canon and its Basic Teachings
The research of basic canons and teachings of Buddhism has shown that Gautama Buddha must have spread such ideas as the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path, Nirvana, the three marks of existence, the five aggregates, dependent origination, karma and rebirth (Mitchell 34).
Essential Principles and Categories
The significant principles on which the belief is based are taking refuge in the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha, the studying of scriptures, following moral precepts, practicing meditation (both vipassanā and samatha), Nekkhamma, the cult of wisdom, Mahayana and Vajrayana practices.
The Major Trends, Schools and Denominations of Buddhism
Buddhism evolved in two branches, namely Theravada ("The School of the Elders") and Mahayana ("The Great Vehicle"). In general, Mahayana incorporates the traditional Mahayana teachings, and the Vajrayāna teachings are devoted to esotericism.
Works Cited
Eraly, Abraham. The First Spring: The Golden Age of India. Penguin Books. 2011.
Freiberger, Oliver. "The Meeting of Traditions: Inter-Buddhist and Inter-Religious Relations in the West." Mandala, https://web.archive.org/web/20040626064000/http://www.mandala.hr:80/5/relations.htm. Accessed 2 Jan. 2017.
Mitchell, Donald W. Buddhism: Introducing the Buddhist Experience. Oxford University Press, 2002.
