Please note that within each religion, there is a wide spectrum of beliefs and preferences. This site is to serve as a guide rather than an absolute template for each religion.
Holy Texts: Four Noble Truths, Sutras, Suttas, and Tipitaka
Iconic Symbols: Buddha, Lotus flower, Dharmachakra, Stupa, Triratana, Chattra, Dhvaja, Naga
Key Figure: Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha)
Religious Leaders: Monks
Spiritual Practices Regarding the Ill:
Pray
Meditate
Cultivation of Positive Thoughts
Chanting
Ayruvedic Therapy
Holidays:
Buddhist New Year (Theravada, Mahayana, and Tibetian)
Vassa (Buddhist Lent)
Vesak
Obon
Illness:
Suffering overcome by ridding one’s self from desires
Acceptance of illness will result in less suffering
Suffering is all in the mind
May not express pain
Treatment:
First Noble Truth: To Live is to Suffer
Herbal and supernatural remedies
Mindfulness
Cure through transformation
Buddha is the Master Physician
Spiritual and Psychosocial counseling
After Life:
Death equates to separation of mind and body
Consciousness is reborn
Reconstitution of another person
Final reality is the Void
“Life is suffering”