Though Buddhists only make up about 4% of the global population, Buddhism is still one of the largest religions in the world. For followers of Jesus who want to engage in conversation with Buddhists, here are some things to know.
Fast Facts
Population: 324 million (4.1% of global population)
Growth Rate: The population is expected to decrease by 7% by 2060.
Year Founded: 563 B.C.
Founder: Siddhartha Gautama
Holy Texts: Pali canon (Tipitaka), the Book of the Dead, and sutras
Major Branches: Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana
View of Jesus: A good teacher
Where They Live
The largest Buddhist populations are concentrated in East and Southeast Asia. Thailand has the largest percentage of the world’s Buddhists (20.9%), followed by China (16.5%) and Myanmar (14.6%). Though Cambodia only has 5% of the world’s Buddhists, 97.1% of the country’s population practices Buddhism.
Major Beliefs
Siddhartha Gautama, later known as the Buddha, was born into a royal family around the sixth century B.C. Though raised in luxury, he was deeply troubled by the realities of sickness, old age, and death. He renounced his wealth to seek answers to human suffering. After years of self-denial and meditation, he claimed to attain enlightenment while meditating under the Bodhi tree. From then on, he taught the path to liberation from suffering until his death.
Buddhism is fundamentally nontheistic, centering not on gods but on the path to enlightenment. Buddhists believe in the Four Noble Truths:
- Dukkha: Suffering is a part of life.
- Samudaya: Ignorance, attachment, and aversion cause suffering.
- Nirodha: There is a way to end suffering.
- Magga: One can be liberated from suffering by following the Eightfold Path.
The Eightfold Path lists the guiding principles for morality, wisdom, and meditation:
- Samma ditthi: right understanding
- Samma sankappa: right thought
- Samma vaca: right speech
- Samma kammanta: right action
- Samma ajiva: right livelihood
- Samma vayama: right effort
- Samma sati: right mindfulness
- Samma samadhi: right concentration
Finally, Buddhists are taught the Five Precepts:
- Refrain from harming living things.
- Refrain from taking what is not given.
- Refrain from sexual misconduct.
- Refrain from lying.
- Refrain from intoxicants that lead to losing mindfulness.
Buddhists also believe in karma, reincarnation, and impermanence. They seek to achieve enlightenment, a state of inner peace and wisdom. When they reach enlightenment, they are said to experience nirvana, a state of being free from endless wandering (i.e. reincarnation).
Conversation Bridges
Before you begin sharing the gospel, ask your Buddhist friends what they believe. Ask them how they believe someone can achieve peace, how they define peace, and who they believe is the most enlightened person they know. These questions can be followed by you sharing your thoughts on the topics.
Since Buddhism is nontheistic, many phrases commonly used in Christian circles may be foreign to Buddhists. Find ways to communicate the truth about Jesus in a way that Buddhist friends can understand. For instance, you can ask, “May I share how I know suffering will end one day?” or “May I tell you how I achieved eternal peace?”
Confrontation and apologetics are generally unwelcome, so look for opportunities to share some of Jesus’ teachings instead. This can spark a conversation about the similarities and differences between Jesus’ and Buddha’s teachings.
Read this story of how a Buddhist man came to know Christ.
As you engage in conversations with Buddhists, you can pray that God reveals His grace to those working to achieve enlightenment.
A Field Guide to Major World Religions
As followers of Jesus Christ, we are not ashamed of the gospel and its power. Yet we sometimes still find ourselves unsure of how to share our faith as we go about daily lives, especially with people of different religions and worldviews. This guide includes a summary of beliefs from the major world religions, stories of lives changed by Jesus, prayers, and tips for sharing the gospel to help you engage missionally with people from various faith backgrounds. Download your free copy today!
