Buddhism explained to kids

Buddhism is a religion that began in India about 2,500 years ago. The founder of Buddhism was Siddhartha Gautama. Siddhartha Gautama was born a prince, but he gave up his royal life to become a monk. He became known as the Buddha, which means "awakened one." Buddhists believe that all beings have the same Buddha nature and that we can all become Buddhas. The goal of Buddhism is to end suffering and to reach nirvana, which is a state of perfect peace. There are two main branches of Buddhism: Theravada Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism. Theravada Buddhism is also called "Hinayana," which means "small vehicle." It is the older of the two branches, and it is practiced mostly in Southeast Asia. Mahayana Buddhism is also called "Great Vehicle" because it emphasizes that all beings can become Buddhas. It is practiced mostly in China, Japan, and Korea. Buddhists follow the Eightfold Path, which is a set of guidelines for ethical and moral living. The Eightfold Path includes Right Understanding, Right Thought, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration. Buddhists also follow the Five Precepts, which are guidelines for moral living. The Five Precepts are: 1. Do not kill. 2. Do not steal. 3. Do not lie. 4. Do not misuse drugs or alcohol. 5. Do not engage in sexual misconduct.