Gill Farrer-Halls

In the following viewpoint, Gill Farrer-Halls explains the basic tenets of Buddhism. Rather than being a religion where a creator god is worshiped, it is a religion of meditation. Buddhism begins with a very strong inward focus. Once a certain level of inner strength and wisdom is achieved, the individual can begin to properly order his or her relationships with the world at large.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. What role does faith have in Buddhism? How would you define this faith?
2. Why is meditation so important to Buddhism? How does this compare to the importance of the Bible in Christianity or the importance of the Koran in Islam?
3. What is Nirvana"

Buddhism is not a belief system or an abstract philosophy. It is a way of life, with teachings on how to behave...