Beliefs

The Four Noble Truths

The Four Noble Truths contain the essence of the Buddha's teachings. It was these four principles that the Buddha came to understand during his meditation under the bodhi tree.

Karma

Teachings about karma explain that our past actions affect us, either positively or negatively, and that our present actions will affect us in the future.

The Buddhist universe

The great tragedy of existence, from a Buddhist point of view, is that it is endless and yet impermanent.

In pictures: the Wheel of Life

The realms of the Buddhist universe are depicted in a diagram known as the Bhavachakra, the Wheel of Life or Wheel of Becoming.

Jesus through Buddhist eyes

Senior Buddhist nun Ajahn Candasiri believes Jesus' suffering encapsulated many Buddhist teachings.