Buddhism (Pali and Buddha Dharma) is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha, "the awakened one". The following outline is provided as an overview of, and topical guide to, Buddhism.

The Buddha

Gautama Buddha

Branches of Buddhism

Schools of Buddhism

Schools of Buddhism

Theravāda

Theravada — literally, "the Teaching of the Elders" or "the Ancient Teaching", it is the oldest surviving Buddhist school. It was founded in India. It is relatively conservative, and generally closer to early Buddhism, and for many centuries has been the predominant religion of Sri Lanka (now about 70% of the population ) and most of continental Southeast Asia.

Mahāyāna

Mahayana — literally the "Great Vehicle", it is the largest school of Buddhism, and originated in India. The term is also used for classification of Buddhist philosophies and practice. According to the teachings of Mahāyāna traditions, "Mahāyāna" also refers to the path of seeking complete enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings, also called "Bodhisattvayāna", or the "Bodhisattva Vehicle."

Vajrayāna

Vajrayana

Early Buddhist schools

Early Buddhist schools

Buddhist modernism

Buddhist modernism

Buddhism worldwide

Buddhism by country

Buddhist scriptures and texts

Buddhist texts

Theravada texts

Pali literature

Mahayana texts

Vajrayana texts

History of Buddhism

History of Buddhism

Doctrines of Buddhism

Three Jewels (Tiratana • Triratna)

Three Jewels

Four Noble Truths (Cattāri ariyasaccāni • Catvāri āryasatyāni)

Four Noble Truths

1. The Noble Truth of Suffering (Dukkha ariya sacca)

2. The Noble Truth of the Origin of Suffering (Dukkha samudaya ariya sacca)

3. The Noble Truth of the Cessation of Suffering (Dukkha nirodha ariya sacca)

4. The Noble Truth of the Path of Practice leading to the Cessation of Suffering (Dukkha nirodha gāminī paṭipadā ariya sacca)

Three Characteristics of Existence (Tilakkhaṇa • Trilakṣaṇa)

Three marks of existence

Five Aggregates (Pañca khandha • Pañca-skandha)

Skandha

Dependent Origination (Paticcasamuppāda • Pratītyasamutpāda)

This/that Conditionality (Idappaccayatā)

Describing the causal nature of everything in the universe, as expressed in the following formula:

Twelve Links (Nidāna)

Describes how suffering arises.

Transcendental Dependent Origination

Describes the path out of suffering.

Karma (Kamma)

Karma in Buddhism

Rebirth (Punabbhava • Punarbhava)

Buddhist cosmology

Buddhist cosmology

Sense bases (Āyatana)

Ayatana

Six Great Elements (Dhātu)

Faculties (Indriya)

Indriya

Formations (Saṅkhāra • Saṃskāra)

Mental Factors (Cetasika • Caitasika )

Theravāda abhidhamma

Mahayana abhidharma

Mind and Consciousness

Obstacles to Enlightenment

Two Kinds of Happiness (Sukha)

Two Kinds of Bhava

Two Guardians of the World (Sukka lokapala)

Three Conceits

Three Standpoints

Three Primary Aims

Three Divisions of the Dharma

Four Kinds of Nutriment

Four Kinds of Acquisitions (Upadhi)

Eight Worldly Conditions

Truth (Sacca • Satya)

Higher Knowledge (Abhiññā • Abhijñā)

Abhijñā

Great fruits of the contemplative life (Maha-Phala)

Phala

Concepts unique to Mahayana and Vajrayana

Other concepts

Buddhist practices

Buddhist devotion

Buddhist devotion

Moral discipline and precepts (Sīla • Śīla)

Three Resolutions

Three Pillars of Dharma

Threefold Training (Sikkhā)

Threefold Training

Five Qualities

Five Powers of a Trainee

Five Things that lead to Enlightenment

Five Subjects for Contemplation

Upajjhatthana Sutta

Gradual training (Anupubbikathā)

Seven Good Qualities (Satta saddhammā)

Ten Meritorious Deeds (Dasa Punnakiriya vatthu)

Perfections (Pāramī • Pāramitā)

Ten Theravada Pāramīs (Dasa pāramiyo)

Six Mahayana Pāramitās

States Pertaining to Enlightenment (Bodhipakkhiyādhammā • Bodhipakṣa dharma)

Four Foundations of Mindfulness (Cattāro satipaṭṭhānā • Smṛtyupasthāna)

Satipatthana

Four Right Efforts (Cattārimāni sammappadhānāni • Samyak-pradhāna)

Four Right Exertions

Four Roads to Mental Power (Iddhipāda • Ṛddhipāda)

Iddhipada

Five Spiritual Faculties (Pañca indriya)

Indriya

Five Powers (Pañca bala)

Five Strengths

Seven Factors of Enlightenment (Satta sambojjhaṅgā • Sapta bodhyanga)

Seven Factors of Enlightenment

Neutral

Arousing

Calming

Noble Eightfold Path (Ariya aṭṭhaṅgika magga • Ārya 'ṣṭāṅga mārgaḥ)

Noble Eightfold Path

Wisdom (Paññākkhandha)

Moral discipline (Sīlakkhandha)

Concentration (Samādhikkhandha)

Acquired factors

Buddhist meditation

Theravada meditation practices

Tranquillity/Serenity/Calm (Samatha • Śamatha)

Samatha

Concentration (Samādhi)

Insight meditation (Vipassanā • Vipaśyanā)

Zen meditation practices

Vajrayana meditation practices

Other practices

Attainment of Enlightenment

Enlightenment in Buddhism

General

Theravada

Mahayana

Zen

Buddhist monasticism and laity

Buddhist monasticism

Major figures of Buddhism

List of Buddhists

Founder

Buddha's disciples and early Buddhists

Chief Disciples

Great Disciples

Monks

Nuns

Laymen

Laywomen

First five disciples of the Buddha

Two seven-year-old Arahants

Other disciples

Later Indian Buddhists (after Gotama Buddha)

Indo-Greek Buddhists

Chinese Buddhists

Tibetan Buddhists

Japanese Buddhists

Vietnamese Buddhists

Burmese Buddhists

Thai Buddhists

Sri Lankan Buddhists

American Buddhists

Brazilian Buddhists

British Buddhists

German Buddhists

Irish Buddhists

Buddhist philosophy

Buddhist philosophy

Buddhist culture

Buddhist pilgrimage

Buddhist pilgrimage

Comparative Buddhism

Other topics related to Buddhism

Lists

Charts

Sources