10+ Interesting Facts About Buddhism

Last Updated: September 26, 2025

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Many people think Buddhism is just about meditation and monks, but there's more to it. In this guide, I will share some interesting facts about Buddhism that might surprise you.

We will answer questions like "Does Buddhism have a god?" and "Where did Buddhism start?". So, stay with me for an interesting and easy-to-understand explanation.

What is Buddhism?

Buddhism is one of the world's biggest religions and started about 2,500 years ago in Lumbini, Nepal. It was founded by Prince Siddhartha Gautama, who later became known as Buddha, which means "the enlightened one."

Buddhism does not believe in a creator god like some other religions. Instead, they believe in karma and rebirth. They think that the soul does not die and is not permanent; this idea is an illusion.

Buddhists believe that anyone who follows the path can become a Buddha and escape the cycle of rebirth.

What is Mean by Karma and Rebirth?

In Buddhism, Karma means the outcomes caused by a person's actions or deeds. Here, the good karma (kindness and compassion) leads to positive outcomes, while the Bad karma (hatred and greed) leads to negative consequences like suffering.

Rebirth means the continuation of reborn again and again in the form of human, animal, heavenly or hellish, which depends on the person's karma. To escape the cycle of samsara (endless rebirth), people must purify their karma and reach nirvana (the state beyond rebirth).

Many Buddhists also believe in Maitreya, saying that the future Budhhan will be reborn again and teach the dharma again.

Story of Gautam Buddha

Gautam Buddha (aka Siddhartha Gautama) was born in the 5th BCE in Lumbini, Nepal. The legends say that his birth was magical; he was born on a full moon night while the petals of flowers were falling from the sky and the earth was shaking.

It is believed that Buddha's mother, Queen Maya, had visited a white elephant before the birth of Buddha, which is also known as the symbol of purity. Unfortunately, she died just seven days after giving birth to Siddhartha. He grew up in a luxurious Hindu family till he turned the age of 29 and saw human suffering like old age, sickness and death for the first time.

This made him realize that life includes suffering. So he left the palace and went seeking peace. After many years of meditation, he found the 'Middle Way' - a balanced path between pleasure and pain.

At the age of 35, he became enlightened under a Bodhi Tree of India. And for the rest of his 45 years, he taught many people how to end suffering.

Is Buddhism Ethnic or Universalizing?

Buddhism is universalizing as they are open to all people and seeks new believers to convert to their religion. They are not like other ethnic religions like Hinduism, Judaism, or Shinto that are ethnically specific.

As mentioned above, Buddhism started in Lumbini, Nepal, and today, they have spread across all countries and even the world. Today, Buddhism has become one of the biggest religions worldwide, followed by around 1.5 billion people.

Where is Buddhism Practiced Today?

Today, Buddhism is mainly practiced in Asian countries like China, Thailand, Japan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal and also in Western countries, the United States and Europe.

Around 39% of total Buddhist people live in China, 13% in Thailand, 10% in Japan, 9% in Nepal and the remaining live in other countries.

In the US, around 3 million adults follow Buddhism, of whom the majority are Asian Americans, 43% are Vietnamese Americans, and 25% are Japanese Americans.

What are Buddhism's Main Teachings?

Buddhism mainly focuses on the Four Nobel Truths teachings:

1. Life includes suffering (called dukkha.
2. Suffering comes from craving and attachment.
3. Suffering can end.
4. The way to end suffering is the Noble Eightfold Path.

The noble eightfold paths include understanding, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, and concentration. These are all grouped into three main parts: morality, mental focus, and wisdom.

Branches of Buddhism

Buddhism may sound like a single religion, but even Buddhism has three main branches, each having some differences in beliefs, but the basic teachings are the same.

1. Theravada: It is one of the oldest and the most traditional Buddhism that mainly focuses on enlightenment.
2. Mahayana: It is more popular in East Asia and more focused on companionship and helping others.
3. Vajrayana: This Buddhism is followed primarily in Tibet, Mongolia and Nepal, and they have their own specific rituals and mantras.

Famous Buddhist Figures

Tenzin Gyatso (14th Dalai Lama), Steve Jobs, Tina Turner, and Leonard Cohen are examples of famous Buddhist public figures.

1. Dalai Lama: One of the most popular Buddhist figures is Tenzin Gyatso, who is the current and the 14th Dalai lama. Dalai lama is the most respected and highest spiritual leader position of Tibetian Buddhism.
2. Steve Jobs (CEO of Apple Inc.) followed the Zen Buddhism. He has mentioned many times that he has the principles of simplicity, mindfulness and focus in his Apple design from Buddhism.
3. Tina Turner is a legendary singer and performer who follows the Nichiren Buddhism. She has even chanted Nam-myoho-renge-kyo (Nichiren Buddhism chant) many times. And even she credited Buddhism for healing from trauma and abuse.
4. Leonard Cohen is a Canadian singer and songwriter who spent around 5 years as a Buddhist monk at Mount Baldy Zen Center in California. He is Jewish by birth but deeply connected with the Zen Buddhism teaching.

Final Thought

Buddhism is not just about meditation and monks; it is the way of living life in peace and compassion. Every part of the journey of becoming Buddha teaches you something valuable and life-changeable.

If you are want to learn Buddhism and looking for the best places to learn Buddhism, then Lumbini, Nepal, can be the best place. It is open to everyone, and teaching is as meaningful as it was 2,500 years ago.

FAQs

Q1. How many American Buddhists have postgraduate degrees?

More than 20% of American Buddhists have postgraduate degrees, which is even more than the Christian groups that have doctoral degrees.

Q2. What are the Ethics of Buddhism?

Buddhist ethics give the 5 Precepts: avoid killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, and intoxicants. Some Buddhist schools encourage vegetarians, but not all.

Q3. Who was the first novice monk?

The first novice monk of Buddhism was Rahula, the son of Gautam Buddha and Princess Yasodhara.

Q4. Was Gautam Buddha born in India or Nepal?

Siddhartha Gautam was born in Lumbini, Nepal, but later, he moved to India and gained enlightenment in India. In short, he was born in Nepal but became a Buddha in India.

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