The Bodh Tree, where Buddha reached enlightenment. http://www.heybrian.com/travels/india/bodhgaya.php
Religious Beliefs
Buddhist's core beliefs are the belief in reincarnation and the belief in the Four Noble Truths. The first truth is dukkha, suffering, which means that being alive means you are suffering. The second truth is tanha, desire, which means the cause of suffering is desire. The third truth is nirodah, cessation, meaning that there can be an end to the suffering. The fourth and final noble truth is magga, which tells that the solution to suffering is the Eightfold Path. If you follow the Eightfold Path, you will leave Samsara, the normal world of suffering, and you will reach Nivana, the final destination of peace. All of this is recorded from Buddha's teachings in The Tripitaka.
The founder of Buddhism was named Siddhartha Guatama. Born a pampered prince, his father never told him about the cruelty of the world. But, in his trips outside, Guatama witnessed the Four Passing Sights, which taught him about sickness, oldness, death, and about religion. Guatama decided he would give up being a prince and become and ascetic to make sense of the cruelness of the world. When he nearly starved in his attempts to reach enlightenment, he discovered being an ascetic didn't work either. So, he sat under a bodhi tree and pondered life. There, he reached enlightenment, and learned that inside him was anatta, nothing, the knowledge that you are different everyday, you are constantly changing, contradicting the Hindu belief that inside you was everything. The second thing he discover was anicca, the knowledge that everything is always changing. The third thing he learned was dukkha, the knowledge that being alive is suffering.
The founder of Buddhism was named Siddhartha Guatama. Born a pampered prince, his father never told him about the cruelty of the world. But, in his trips outside, Guatama witnessed the Four Passing Sights, which taught him about sickness, oldness, death, and about religion. Guatama decided he would give up being a prince and become and ascetic to make sense of the cruelness of the world. When he nearly starved in his attempts to reach enlightenment, he discovered being an ascetic didn't work either. So, he sat under a bodhi tree and pondered life. There, he reached enlightenment, and learned that inside him was anatta, nothing, the knowledge that you are different everyday, you are constantly changing, contradicting the Hindu belief that inside you was everything. The second thing he discover was anicca, the knowledge that everything is always changing. The third thing he learned was dukkha, the knowledge that being alive is suffering.
Lumbini Grove, the place where Buddha was born. http://www.onlypilgrim.com/Lumbini.html
Religious Practices
The ethical guidelines all buddhists follow are called the Five Precepts. These are; first, to not harm others, second, to not take what is not given, third, don't lie, fourth, do not misuse sensual expirences, and finally, fifth, to not use intoxicants. Buddhists believe if they follow the Five Precepts, they will have good karma, and receive a fortunate reincarnation.
In all of the sects of Buddhism, the final goal is Nirvana, but they all go about it a different way. The Theravada buddhists focus on following the early texts, in understanding the Four Noble Truths and partaking in the Eightfold Path, especially the meditation. Those who succeed in reaching Nirvana become arhats. The Mahayana Buddhists focus on Buddha himself, and the other budhisattva, those who have reached Nirvana but stay to teach others enlightenment. Mahayana Buddhists value compassion over all else and pray to Buddha as the divine savior. The Vajrayana buddhists focus on the ability to achieve Nirvana in this lifetime through harnessing ones life's passion. Some practices used to propel oneself towards Nirvana are making mandalas, doing mudras, and speaking mantras.
In all of the sects of Buddhism, the final goal is Nirvana, but they all go about it a different way. The Theravada buddhists focus on following the early texts, in understanding the Four Noble Truths and partaking in the Eightfold Path, especially the meditation. Those who succeed in reaching Nirvana become arhats. The Mahayana Buddhists focus on Buddha himself, and the other budhisattva, those who have reached Nirvana but stay to teach others enlightenment. Mahayana Buddhists value compassion over all else and pray to Buddha as the divine savior. The Vajrayana buddhists focus on the ability to achieve Nirvana in this lifetime through harnessing ones life's passion. Some practices used to propel oneself towards Nirvana are making mandalas, doing mudras, and speaking mantras.
Sarnath, where Buddha taught his first sermon to the ascetics. http://buddhcharika.com/pilgrimage-buddhist/sarnath/
Social Orginization
Buddhists worship in temples or at home, usually through meditation. In temples, buddhists meditate while monks chant prayers. Buddhist communities are called Sanghas. In a sangha, the religious hierarchy goes like this: monks, then nuns, then lay people, then pilgrims. Monks lead the meditation and teach the children. Nuns are the monks assistants and sometimes help with meditation. Lay men are the people who bring the food to the monks. Pilgrims are Buddhists who travel around to different sites to learn more about Buddhism, so they can't climb high on the hierarchy ladder because they leave all the time.
Kusinara, where Buddha died. https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/LocationPhotoDirectLink-g295408-d3964643-i124132992-Kusinara_Pagoda-Mandalay_Mandalay_Region.html
Maps
Left: https://www.pariyatti.org/Pilgrimage/AlongthePath–IndiaNepalPilgrimage/tabid/140/Default.aspx
Middle: http://www.dharma-journeys.org/nepal_india_map.htm
Right: https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Buddhism_percent_population_in_each_nation_World_Map_Buddhist_data_by_Pew_Research.svg
Middle: http://www.dharma-journeys.org/nepal_india_map.htm
Right: https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Buddhism_percent_population_in_each_nation_World_Map_Buddhist_data_by_Pew_Research.svg
The map on the left is the map of a pilgrimage someone took that trace the steps Buddha made in his life. It stops at all the important places, like Kushingar and Sarnath, where Buddha died. The map in the middle is another pilgrimage someone else took. They didn't retrace Buddha's steps, but they did stop at many important Buddhist areas. The map on the right is a map of the percent of Buddhist population in each country.