Theravada TraditionHow can we begin to understand such a diverse and ancient religion? The scope of Buddhism is immense. It is a religion without any written rules. Buddhism is based on self-discovery. Buddhists are born with the quest to find their true form. They believe themselves to be prisoners of the physical plain until they reach nirvana. Nirvana is the ultimate goal of a Buddhist. It is the State that saves them from all suffering and evil. They believe that only nirvana can take them out of the endless circle of life. It is the same circle that sends them back into a world of suffering and pain. This is precisely what they want to escape. Buddhists must conquer the mind before they can achieve nirvana. The mind is full of desire and greed. A Buddhist eradicates temptations like greed and lust by rejecting the source of evil. They live independently of most of the luxuries demanded by Westerners. They mainly depend on the basic necessities of life. By removing temptation, they gain more control over their minds. Buddhists are very spiritual about their surroundings. They cherish all living things. They would remove all living organisms very carefully before an area was used for construction. Reducing the suffering of others gives meaning to their lives. They believe that all things have the right to live. By doing good things, they relieve the mind of all the suffering around them. We cannot eliminate suffering. We can only reduce it. By controlling the mind, we control most of the suffering we ourselves create. We are neurotic beings who crave suffering. Most people have no control over their suffering. Suffering controls them. Buddhists emphasize that karma plays an important role in their reincarnation. Reincarnation is the rebirth of a person in the next life. Upon reaching nirvana, the cycle stops and they are not reborn again. By living in constant fear of karma, they lead prosperous lives. They always try to find peaceful solutions to all problems. Buddhists are peaceful people but they are not pacifists. They will only resort to violence if they need to defend themselves. They hate wars because they cost lives. This could give them a negative view of the world and cause negative reincarnation. For a Buddhist, every action on earth will have its consequences. It is precisely the scale of the consequences that worries them.