It is probably safest to say that Buddhism is both a
religion and a way of life, as are many religions. Buddhism teaches that one should
accept the Four Noble Truths:
- Life is
suffering - Suffering is caused by
desire - One can end suffering by ending
desire - One can end desire by following the eight-fold
path.
The end result is a happier life. In
addition, Buddhism teaches that one will re-incarnate after one's death to a higher or
lesser life form; but one's ultimate goal is to reach Nirvana, a state of spiritual
independence and perfection. As has been the case with other missionary religions,
Buddhism has morphed itself into several different forms, one of which worships Buddha
himself as a god.
Since Buddhism attempts to explain what
happens after one dies and also offers an alternative lifestyle as does Islam and
Christianity, the other two missionary religions, it seems axiomatic that Buddhism is
indeed a religion and a way of life. One could also argue that it is a philosophy, as
are many religions; however to refer to it as psychology seems to push the envelope a
bit too far.
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