Glossary Welcome antipodal atom Bach, Johann Sebastian bandwidth Big Bang Theory Buddha Buddhism catalyst cell Church cross-pollinate Dervish Deuter Earth Ekagrata electron epiphanic extrapolate fractal hadith hologram Khan, Hazrat Inayat Khan, Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan, Pir Zia Kirlian photography light year magnetic field maya molecule Mosque n-dimensional Nirvana Nirvitarka peri-personal perspicacity Pir o Murshid quintessence Reincarnation retina Samadhi Satipathana Shabistari, Mahmood stalwart Synagogue transducer Vichara Vitarka wave interference Buddhism           Go back Mysticism Buddhism grew from the enlightened teachings of Siddhartha Guatama, the Buddha, roughly 2,700 years ago. First as an oral, later a written tradition, Buddhism spread throughout Asia to become the the dominant religious belief of millions. Buddha taught the middle way, a path through life that balances desires with non-attatchment in order to overcome suffering. By avoiding the extremes of indulgence and abstinence, by pledging to righteousness, by "letting go" of all cravings and desires one may cease the cycle of reincarnation and achieve the final liberation of Nirvana. Well known in Buddhism are the Four Noble Truths, which describe the intertwined relationship of desire and suffering in the human experience, and the Eightfold Path, a prescription of righteousness for not straying from the middle way. In all its forms, from Zen to Mahayana, Buddhism is a religion that cherishes contemplation, meditation, silence and peace. "Buddhism has the characteristics of what would be expected in a cosmic religion for the future: it transcends a personal God, avoids dogmas and theology; it covers both the natural & spiritual, and it is based on a religious sense aspiring from the experience of all things, natural and spiritual, as a meaningful unity."—Albert Einstein