Religion:Buddhists

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Buddhists (About this soundlisten (help·info)) are people who adhere to Buddhism, a religious and philosophical tradition founded by Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, in the 5th–4th century BCE in India. Buddhist identity can be religious, cultural, or secular, encompassing monastic practitioners, lay followers, and individuals who adopt meditation and ethical practices without formal rituals.[1] The term originates from the Sanskrit word Bauddha (बौद्ध), meaning "follower of the Buddha", which itself is derived from Buddha (बुद्ध), meaning "the Awakened One."[2]

In ancient India, followers of the Buddha identified themselves as Sakyans (Sakyabhiksu), derived from the name of the Buddha's clan, the Sakyas.[3] The English term Buddhist emerged in the early 19th century, combining Buddha with the suffix "-ist," denoting a follower or adherent. The first recorded use of Buddhist in English was in 1810.[4] In descending order, the percentage of people who identify as Buddhists on each continental landmass stands at: the vast majority (about 98%) in Asia and the Pacific, around 1% in Europe, and less than 1% in Africa, Oceania, and the Americas collectively.[5]

Additionally, in subdivided geographical regions, the figure stands at approximately 93% in East Asia, 67% in Southeast Asia, and 29% in South Asia.[6] While there are several Buddhist schools and traditions, as well as non-denominational Buddhists, the two largest traditions are Theravāda Buddhism (predominantly in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos) and Mahayana Buddhism (predominantly in China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam).[7]

By sheer numbers, China accounts for the largest portion of the global Buddhist population, followed by Thailand and Japan.[8] Outside of Buddhist-majority countries, significant populations are found in India and the United States. In 2010, with an estimated population of almost 488 million followers, Buddhism comprises more than 7% of the world's total population.[9] In 2020, Buddhist population declined to 342 million, accounting for around 4% of the world's population.[10] Buddhism is the only major world religion to have declined massively in the last decade, particularly due to growing irreligion in East Asia.[11] However, Buddhism has grown in influence in Western countries due to increasing interest in meditation and mindfulness practices.[12]

Etymology

The word "Buddhist" is derived from "Buddha", meaning "the awakened one", and was first used in English in the early 19th century to describe followers of the Buddha. In local contexts, early Indian practitioners were called Sramanas (ascetics) or Shramaneras (novice monks), emphasizing renunciation and ethical practice.[1] With the spread of Buddhism across Asia, terms like Fo-zu (China), Bukkyōsha (Japan), and Chos-pa (Tibet) came into use, reflecting local languages and cultural adaptations.[13]

Terminology

Monks, even if bandits were to carve you up savagely into pieces with a two-handled saw, he among you who let his heart get angered even at that would not be [a Buddhist].

Buddha, Kakacūpama Sutta (MN 21)[14]

The term "Buddhist" is used broadly to describe anyone who follows the teachings of the Buddha, regardless of specific school or region. While the umbrella term "Buddhist" is widely recognized in English language and other European languages, historical and regional variations exist. In early Indian texts, practitioners were often called Sramanas, meaning ascetics, or Shramanas (novice monks), highlighting their focus on ethical conduct, meditation, and renunciation.[1]

With the spread of Buddhism across Asia, different terms emerged to reflect local languages and traditions. In China, followers were known as Fo-zu (Buddha followers) or Fanfo (foreign Buddha).[13] In Japan, they were called Bukkyōsha (practitioners of the Buddha’s teachings).[15] Tibetan and Himalayan communities use the term Chos-pa to denote those following the Dharma.[16]

Additionally, within Buddhist schools, specific identifiers exist: Theravada Buddhists follow the Pāli Canon and Vinaya (monastic discipline) primarily in Southeast Asia; Mahayana Buddhists follow a diverse set of Mahayana sutras and emphasize the Bodhisattva path, particularly in East Asia; and Vajrayana Buddhists engage in esoteric practices and rituals found mainly in Tibet, Bhutan, and Mongolia.[17]

Modern usage of the term "Buddhist" encompasses both traditional religious practitioners and secular individuals who adopt aspects of Buddhist philosophy, meditation, and ethical teachings without necessarily adhering to rituals or monastic life.[18]

History of Buddhist identity

Bhikkhus praying inside Wat Mai Suwannaphumaham in Luang Prabang, Laos

Buddhist identity has evolved over more than two millennia, shaped by religious, cultural, and political contexts. In its earliest stages in India, followers were identified primarily as Sramanas—ascetics committed to meditation, ethical living, and renunciation—rather than as "Buddhists."[1] After the Buddha's death, Buddhist communities organized around viharas, and identity was often tied to adherence to the Vinaya (monastic code) and the Pāli Canon or Sanskrit scriptures.[19]

As Buddhism spread beyond India along trade routes to Central Asia, East Asia, and Southeast Asia, regional and cultural adaptations influenced the formation of distinct Buddhist identities. In China, Buddhism integrated with Confucianism and Daoism, leading to the emergence of Mahayana traditions, while in Tibet, Vajrayana practices became central, creating a Tibetan Buddhist identity that combined religious, cultural, and political elements.[16] In Southeast Asia, Theravada Buddhism became closely linked with national identity in countries such as Thailand, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka, where kings and governments historically patronized monasteries and promoted moral and social values.[20]

During colonial periods, European scholars and administrators began to categorize followers of Buddhism as "Buddhists," standardizing the term in global discourse. This classification sometimes contrasted with local identities, which were often based on ethnicity, region, or monastic affiliation rather than the broad religious label.[13] In the modern era, Buddhist identity can be religious, cultural, or even secular, encompassing traditional monastic practitioners, lay devotees, and individuals who adopt meditation and ethical practices without participating in formal rituals.[21]

Demographics

China40.5/
Percentage of Buddhists by country, according to the Pew Research Center, 2010

As of 2020, there are approximately 324 million Buddhist worldwide, representing about 4% of the global population.[11][10] They were previously estimated at more than 400 million.[22] As such, Buddhism is the only major world religion to have declined massively in the last decade, particularly due to growing irreligion in East Asia.[11]

The majority of Buddhists reside in Asia, with significant populations in China, Thailand, Japan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam. China is home to the largest number of Buddhists, said to be estimated at around 244 million, including both practicing monks and lay followers who observe Buddhist customs and Buddhist rituals.[23] However, recent estimates of Pew Research Center have asserted that only around 42 million formally identify as Buddhist.[24][25] Southeast Asia has substantial Buddhist populations, with Thailand accounting for approximately 64 million, Myanmar 38 million, Sri Lanka 15 million, and Vietnam 14 million.[20] East Asia also has significant Buddhist communities, including Japan with around 45 million followers,[26] and South Korea with about 11 million adherents.[15]

Buddhism is practiced by people of diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds.[27] In South Asia, Buddhists are predominantly found among the Sinhalese in Sri Lanka, the Bamar in Myanmar, and various minority groups in India and Bangladesh.[28] In East Asia and Southeast Asia, Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Thai, and other ethnic groups maintain Buddhist traditions.[29] Outside Asia, the global Buddhist population includes converts and practitioners in Europe, North America, Australia, and other regions, reflecting a growing secular or meditation-oriented form of Buddhist identity.[30]

Culture

Buddhism ceremony celebrated with sky lanterns, Thailand

Buddhist culture encompasses a wide range of practices, beliefs, artistic expressions, and social institutions that have developed over more than two millennia. Central to Buddhist culture are monastic communities, meditation practices, ethical conduct, and ritual observances. Monasteries serve as centers of learning, spiritual guidance, and community service, often playing an important role in Education, Healthcare, and social welfare in Buddhist-majority countries.[31]

literature includes canonical texts such as the Pāli Canon, Mahayana sutras, and commentaries, which provide guidance on philosophy, ethics, meditation, and ritual. Local traditions have produced extensive literature in Sanskrit, Tibetan, Chinese, Japanese, and other languages.[13] Meditation practices, including mindfulness (sati), concentration (samadhi), and Vipassana (insight), form an essential part of daily life for many Buddhists, whether monastic or lay, and have influenced global secular mindfulness movements.[32]

Buddhist culture also emphasizes Compassion, nonviolence, and ethical living, often reflected in social and charitable activities.[33] In many countries, Buddhist organizations provide humanitarian aid, educational programs, and disaster relief, integrating spiritual teachings with practical service to society.[20]

Buddhist festivals

Buddhist festivals are spiritual and cultural celebrations that commemorate important events in the life of the Buddha, honor his teachings (Dharma), and strengthen the Buddhist community (Sangha). While the dates and customs vary among different traditions—Theravāda, Mahāyāna, and Vajrayāna—all share a spirit of mindfulness, compassion, and gratitude.[34] Most are observed according to the lunar calendar and combine religious devotion with social harmony and acts of generosity.

Pan-Buddhist

The most widely observed Buddhist festival is Vesak (also known as Buddha Day or Buddha Purnima). It celebrates the birth, enlightenment, and passing into Nirvana of Siddhartha Gautama, the historical Buddha.[35] Observed on the full moon of the month of Vaisakha (April–May), Vesak is marked by visits to temples, offering flowers and lamps, chanting, meditation, and acts of compassion and generosity.[36]

Theravāda

In the Theravāda tradition, several full-moon festivals commemorate major events in the Buddha’s life and teachings, as well as milestones in the monastic year. Magha Puja (Sangha Day), held on the full moon of Magha (February–March), commemorates the spontaneous gathering of 1,250 arahants to hear the Buddha’s sermon on harmony and discipline.[37] Devotees light candles, chant, and participate in meditation.

Asalha Puja (Dhamma Day), observed on the full moon of Asalha (July), marks the Buddha’s first sermon at Deer Park in Sarnath, known as the “Turning of the Wheel of Dharma.” It is a time for reflection on the Four Noble Truths and for making merit.[38]

Vassa, or the Rains Retreat, is a three-month monastic retreat beginning in July, during which monks remain in monasteries for meditation and study. At the end of the retreat, on Pavarana Day, monks seek mutual forgiveness, and lay followers participate in the Kathina Ceremony, offering new robes and requisites to the Sangha.[39]

Regional Theravāda observances include Poson Poya in Sri Lanka, marking the introduction of Buddhism to the island by Arahant Mahinda Thera, and the Thadingyut Festival of Lights in Myanmar, which celebrates the Buddha’s descent from Tavatimsa Heaven.[40]

Mahāyāna

Mahāyāna Buddhism celebrates a number of festivals that emphasize the Buddha’s spiritual milestones and the practice of compassion for all beings. Bodhi Day, held on 8 December, commemorates the Buddha’s enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree in Bodh Gaya. Devotees meditate, study sutras, and make offerings of tea, candles, and simple food.[41]

Parinirvana Day (Nirvana Day), observed on 15 February, marks the Buddha’s final passing into Nirvana. It is a time for meditation on impermanence and for reading the Mahāparinirvana Sūtra.[42] Ullambana, also known as the Obon or Ghost Festival, is held in July or August to honor ancestors and relieve the suffering of spirits. Inspired by the legend of Maudgalyayana saving his mother, people make offerings, light lanterns, and chant sutras.[43]

In Japan, the Hana Matsuri or “Flower Festival” on 8 April celebrates the Buddha’s birth, when images of the infant Buddha are bathed in sweet tea. In China, the Laba Festival, observed on the 8th day of the 12th lunar month (December–January), commemorates the Buddha’s enlightenment with the preparation of Laba porridge and temple offerings.[44]

Vajrayāna

In Vajrayāna, especially in Tibet and the Himalayan regions, festivals blend spiritual practice with rich cultural traditions. Losar, the Tibetan New Year celebrated in February–March, marks a period of purification, renewal, and joy. Families clean their homes, perform rituals, and participate in community dances and celebrations.[45]

Saga Dawa Duchen, observed on the full moon of the fourth Tibetan month (May–June), commemorates the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and parinirvana.[46] It is regarded as the holiest month in the Tibetan calendar, during which people undertake pilgrimages, recite mantras, and engage in acts of generosity.[47] Chökhor Düchen, celebrated on the fourth day of the sixth Tibetan month (July–August), honors the “Turning of the Wheel of Dharma,” the Buddha’s first teaching of the Four Noble Truths. Devotees engage in meditation, rituals, and Dharma recitations.[48]

Persecution

The image, in the chapter on India in Hutchison's Story of the Nations edited by James Meston, depicts the Muslim Turkic general Muhammad Bakhtiyar Khilji's massacre of Buddhist monks in Bihar. Khaliji destroyed the Nalanda and Vikramshila universities during his raids across North Indian plains, massacring many Buddhist and Brahmin scholars.[49]

Buddhists have faced persecution at various points in history, often due to political, religious, or ethnic conflicts. In India, Buddhism declined after the 12th century, partly due to invasions by Muslim rulers and the destruction of monasteries and universities such as Nalanda and Vikramashila.[50] In Tibet, the Chinese invasion of 1950 led to the suppression of religious institutions, imprisonment of monks, and destruction of monasteries, causing a large-scale diaspora of Tibetan Buddhists.[51]

During the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia (1975–1979), Buddhism was targeted as a symbol of the old society; monks were defrocked, temples destroyed, and religious practice banned, resulting in the deaths of thousands of monks.[52] In Myanmar, Buddhists have occasionally faced communal violence, though the majority are dominant in the population; conversely, Buddhist-majority communities have also been involved in ethnic conflicts, particularly against Rohingya, illustrating complex inter-religious dynamics.[53]

In modern times, Buddhists in countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan, and parts of Central Asia face discrimination and threats as minority communities.[54] Despite these challenges, Buddhist communities have often emphasized nonviolence, resilience, and dialogue, reflecting core teachings of Compassion and tolerance while seeking protection of religious freedom and cultural heritage.[55]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Gethin, Rupert (1998). The Foundations of Buddhism. Oxford University Press. pp. 23–25. ISBN 978-0192892232. 
  2. ↑ "Sanskrit term for a Buddhist". https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/22396/sanskrit-term-for-a-buddhist. 
  3. ↑ "Buddhist History". https://www.britannica.com/topic/Buddhism. 
  4. ↑ "Buddhist". https://www.etymonline.com/word/Buddhist. 
  5. ↑ "Global Religious Landscape: Regional Distribution". https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2012/12/18/global-religious-landscape-exec/. 
  6. ↑ "Religion in Asia-Pacific Region". https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2015/04/02/buddhists/. 
  7. ↑ "Buddhism". https://www.britannica.com/topic/Buddhism. 
  8. ↑ "Global Distribution of Buddhists". https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2012/12/18/global-religious-landscape-buddhist/. 
  9. ↑ Hackett, Conrad (18 December 2012). "The Global Religious Landscape: Buddhists". https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2012/12/18/global-religious-landscape-buddhist/. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Hackett, Conrad; Stonawski, Marcin; Tong, Yunping; Kramer, Stephanie; Shi, Anne; Fahmy, Dalia (2025-06-09). "6. Buddhist population change" (in en-US). https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2025/06/09/buddhist-population-change/. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Fahmy, Conrad Hackett, Marcin Stonawski, Yunping Tong, Stephanie Kramer, Anne Shi and Dalia (2025-06-09). "Buddhist population change" (in en-US). https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2025/06/09/buddhist-population-change/. 
  12. ↑ "Growth of Buddhism and Meditation Practices in the West". https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2019/11/21/u-s-religious-landscape-study/. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 Buswell, Robert E. (2014). The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism. Princeton University Press. pp. 115. ISBN 978-1400848058. 
  14. ↑ Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu MN 21.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Williams, Paul (2005). Buddhism: The Early Buddhist Schools and the Mahayana Traditions. Routledge. pp. 14–16. ISBN 9780415332262. 
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Gyatso, Tenzin (1998). An Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism. Cambridge University Press. pp. 7–9. ISBN 978-1559392822. 
  17. ↑ Harvey, Peter (2013). An Introduction to Buddhism: Teachings, History and Practices. Cambridge University Press. pp. 5–8. ISBN 978-0-521-85942-4. 
  18. ↑ Lopez, Donald S. Jr.. "Buddhism and Science: A Guide for the Perplexed". https://www.amazon.com/Buddhism-Science-Guide-Perplexed-Lopez/dp/0226306821. 
  19. ↑ Dangol, Purusottam (2024). Elements of Buddhist Stupa Architecture. Adroit Publishers. ISBN 978-8196559687. 
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 Swearer, Donald K. (2010). The Buddhist World of Southeast Asia. State University of New York Press. pp. 45–50. ISBN 978-1438432502. 
  21. ↑ Lopez, Donald S. Jr.. "Buddhism and Science: A Guide for the Perplexed". https://www.amazon.com/Buddhism-Science-Guide-Perplexed-Lopez/dp/0226306821. 
  22. ↑ Johnson, Philip (2022). World Religions in Figures. Oxford University Press. pp. 45. ISBN 978-0470674543. 
  23. ↑ Robinson, Richard (2020). Buddhism in Modern Asia. Routledge. pp. 12–15. ISBN 9780521859424. 
  24. ↑ "6 facts about Buddhism in China" (in en-US). 2023-09-21. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/09/21/6-facts-about-buddhism-in-china/. 
  25. ↑ Nadeem, Reem (2023-08-30). "Buddhism" (in en-US). https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2023/08/30/buddhism/. 
  26. ↑ "文化庁 宗教年鑑 令和5年版". Agency for Cultural Affairs. 2023-12-28. p. 51. https://www.bunka.go.jp/tokei_hakusho_shuppan/hakusho_nenjihokokusho/shukyo_nenkan/pdf/r05nenkan.pdf#page=65. 
  27. ↑ Powers, John (2007). "Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism". Snow Lion Publications. https://www.snowlionpub.com/collections/frontpage/products/introduction-to-tibetan-buddhism. 
  28. ↑ Tikhonov, Vladimir Brekke (2019). "Buddhism and Violence: Militarism and Buddhism in Modern Asia". Routledge. https://www.routledge.com/Buddhism-and-Violence-Militarism-and-Buddhism-in-Modern-Asia/Tikhonov-Brekke/p/book/9781138921894. 
  29. ↑ Samuels, Jeffrey; McDaniel; Henry, Justin Thomas; St., Mark Michael (2013). "Figures of Buddhist Modernity in Asia". University of Hawaii Press. https://www.amazon.com/Figures-Buddhist-Modernity-Jeffrey-Samuels/dp/0824858549. 
  30. ↑ Lopez, Donald S. Jr.. "Buddhism in the West". https://www.buddhisminamerica.org. 
  31. ↑ Gethin, Rupert (1998). The Foundations of Buddhism. Oxford University Press. pp. 45–50. ISBN 978-0192892232. 
  32. ↑ Lopez, Donald S. Jr.. "Buddhism and Meditation". https://www.buddhismtoday.com/meditation. 
  33. ↑ Seneviratna, Anuradha; Polk, Benjamin (1992) (in SL). Buddhist Monastic Architecture in Sri Lanka: The Woodland Shrines. Abhinav Publications. ISBN 978-8170172819. 
  34. ↑ "Full Moon Poya Days". https://www.srilanka.travel/poya-days. 
  35. ↑ United Nations Vesak Day
  36. ↑ Gombrich, Richard (1988). Theravāda Buddhism: A Social History from Ancient Benares to Modern Colombo. Routledge. ISBN 978-0415365093. 
  37. ↑ "Magha Puja Day". https://www.thaigov.go.th/. 
  38. ↑ King, Sallie B. (2019). Buddhism and Festivals in Thailand. Bangkok: Silkworm Books. ISBN 978-0824833510. 
  39. ↑ "Vassa | Rituals, Practices & Significance | Britannica" (in en). https://www.britannica.com/topic/vassa. 
  40. ↑ Norbu, Thubten. "Losar: Tibetan New Year Traditions". https://www.tibetanreview.net/losar. 
  41. ↑ Ikeda, Reverend Earl (2019-12-09). "O Bodhi Tree, O Bodhi Tree" (in en). https://tricycle.org/article/bodhi-day/. 
  42. ↑ Berzin, Alexander. "Bodhi Day and Its Significance in Mahayana Buddhism". https://studybuddhism.com. 
  43. ↑ "Vesak Day – Buddha’s Birth, Enlightenment, and Parinirvana". https://www.ibc2015.com/vesak. 
  44. ↑ "Bodhi Day – Celebrating the Buddha’s Enlightenment". https://tricycle.org/article/bodhi-day/. 
  45. ↑ Earhart, H. Byron (2013). Japanese Religion: Unity and Diversity. Wadsworth. ISBN 978-1111343175. 
  46. ↑ Dorje, Gyurme (2009). Tibetan Festivals. Shambhala Publications. ISBN 978-1590303927. 
  47. ↑ Jorden, Anne (2015). "Obon Festival and Ancestor Worship in Japan". Asian Folklore Studies 74 (2): 123–145. 
  48. ↑ Jorden, Anne (2015). "Obon Festival and Ancestor Worship in Japan". Asian Folklore Studies 74 (2): 123–145. 
  49. ↑ Sanyal, Sanjeev (15 November 2012). Land of seven rivers: History of India's Geography. Penguin Books Limited. pp. 130–1. ISBN 978-81-8475-671-5. https://books.google.com/books?id=xu-O9eNmQXMC&pg=PT130. 
  50. ↑ Keown, Damien (2004). A Dictionary of Buddhism. Oxford University Press. pp. 254–256. ISBN 978-0198605607. 
  51. ↑ Smith, Evan (1996). Tibet: A History. Yale University Press. pp. 220–230. ISBN 978-0300154047. 
  52. ↑ Chandler, David P. (2000). A History of Cambodia. Westview Press. pp. 250–255. ISBN 978-0813343631. 
  53. ↑ Steinberg, David I. (2013). Burma/Myanmar: What Everyone Needs to Know. Oxford University Press. pp. 85–90. ISBN 978-0199981687. 
  54. ↑ King, Sarah (2011). Buddhism and Human Rights. Routledge. pp. 77–80. ISBN 9780700709540. 
  55. ↑ Queen, Christopher S. (2000). Engaged Buddhism in the West. Wisdom Publications. pp. 15–18. ISBN 9780861718412. 

Sources



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