Buddhism
Buddhists follow the teaching of the Buddha on the causes of suffering and the path to awakening, through ethics, meditation and wisdom.
Began about 2,500 years ago in northern India with Siddhartha Gautama, who became the Buddha ("awakened one"). It spread across Asia into many schools and has grown in the US since the 1960s.
Core ideas
- The Four Noble Truths: suffering, its cause, its end, and the path
- The Eightfold Path of right view, intention, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness and concentration
- Impermanence and interdependence
- Compassion for all beings
Common practices
- Meditation
- Chanting
- Dharma talks
- Retreats
- Ethical precepts
US Buddhism includes immigrant temples that have served families for generations and meditation centers where many people begin with no religious background.
Sacred texts
All traditions' scriptures →Buddhism has no single book. Each school treasures its own large collection of teachings, and temples chant short texts in services. Most newcomers start with a small collection like the Dhammapada.
Pali Canon (Tipitaka)
Original language: Pali
The scriptures of Theravada Buddhism: the Buddha's discourses (suttas), the monastic rules and philosophical texts. The Dhammapada, a short book of verses, is part of it.
Mahayana sutras and the Tibetan canon
Original language: Sanskrit, Chinese and Tibetan
Zen and other Mahayana temples often chant the Heart Sutra and study the Diamond and Lotus Sutras. Tibetan Buddhism has its own canon, the Kangyur and Tengyur, along with many teachers' writings.
Read free online or in an app
- SuttaCentral · Free early Buddhist texts with modern English translations (Bhikkhu Sujato's are free of copyright).
- Access to Insight · Free library of Theravada texts and introductions.
- Dhammatalks.org · Free sutta translations by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
- Lotsawa House · Free Tibetan Buddhist texts in English, including the Heart Sutra.
Branches and communities
Theravada & Insight
Thai, Sri Lankan, Burmese, Cambodian, Lao temples; Vipassana
The "teaching of the elders," preserved in Southeast Asia, with monastic communities and a focus on insight (vipassana) meditation.
Beliefs: Personal effort along the Eightfold Path leads to liberation; monks and nuns keep the early teachings.
Worship: Temples hold chanting, offerings to monks and meditation, especially on weekends and full-moon days. Insight meditation centers offer secular-friendly sits and classes.
On a first visit
- Remove shoes, and avoid pointing your feet toward the Buddha image or monks.
- Many temples welcome visitors to a Sunday meal or meditation session.
Zen & Mahayana
Zen, Chan, Pure Land, Nichiren
Schools of East Asian Buddhism, from Zen's seated meditation to Pure Land's devotional chanting.
Beliefs: Everyone has Buddha-nature; the bodhisattva ideal is to awaken for the benefit of all beings.
Worship: Zen centers practice zazen (seated meditation) with chanting and talks. Pure Land and Nichiren temples gather for chanting and community services, often on Sundays.
On a first visit
- Most Zen centers offer a short newcomer orientation on how to sit and bow.
- Japanese-American Buddhist temples often have Sunday services that feel familiar to churchgoers.
Larger bodies you'll see on listings: Soka Gakkai International, Buddhist Churches of America
Find a temple or meditation center near meTibetan & Vajrayana
Buddhism of the Himalayas, known for rich ritual, visualization practices and close teacher–student relationships.
Beliefs: Compassion and wisdom are cultivated through meditation, mantra and the guidance of a qualified teacher.
Worship: Group meditation, chanting, teachings and seasonal pujas (ceremonies), with colorful shrines.
On a first visit
- Intro meditation nights are a common starting point.
Larger bodies you'll see on listings: New Kadampa Tradition, Shambhala
Find a temple or meditation center near me