- The religion based upon the doctrine originally taught by
the Hindoo sage Gautama Siddartha, surnamed Buddha, "the awakened or
enlightened," in the sixth century b. c., and adopted as a religion by
the greater part of the inhabitants of Central and Eastern Asia and the
Indian Islands. Buddha's teaching is believed to have been atheistic;
yet it was characterized by elevated humanity and morality. It presents
release from existence (a beatific enfranchisement, Nirvana) as the
greatest good. Buddhists believe in transmigration of souls through all
phases and forms of life. Their number was estimated in 1881 at
470,000,000.
Definition
[ n.]