Brief Introduction to Buddhism: religion, philosophy, science
Buddhism is one of the most popular systems of thought in the world. According to the Pew Research center, in 2010 the Buddhist population was nearly 500 million, making up 7% of the world’s total population, most of whom live in Asia. People often think of Buddhism as a religion, but it can be viewed as a religion, philosophy, and science. In the Emory-Tibet summer study abroad class, “Mind, Medicine, and Healing,” we were taught about these three facets of the tradition. The religious facet of Buddhism includes religious observances such as prayer and participation in rituals. The philosophical facet of Buddhism consists of concepts such as karma and reincarnation. The scientific facet of Buddhism is the part which is replicable through time and has been confirmed by science. A good example of this science is the Buddhist Science of Mind, or Buddhist Psychology. The philosophical facet of Buddhism includes the doctrines and scriptures which explain all facets of life, from