Buddhism, as traditionally conceived, is a path of salvation attained through insight into the ultimate nature of reality.[2] It encompasses a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha (Pali/Sanskrit "one who is awake"). Adherents recognize the Buddha as an awakened teacher who shared his insights to help sentient beings end suffering, achieve nirvana, and escape what is seen as a cycle of suffering and rebirth. However, Buddhist schools disagree over the historical teachings of the Buddha, and on the importance and canonicity of various scriptures. [3]
Two major branches of Buddhism are recognized: Theravada ("The School of the Elders") and Mahayana ("The Great Vehicle"). Theravada, the oldest surviving, has a widespread following in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia, whilst Mahayana, which is found throughout East Asia, includes the traditions of Pure Land, Zen, Nichiren Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism, Shingon, Tendai and Shinnyo-en . In some classifications, a third branch, Vajrayana, is recognized, although many see this as an offshoot of the Mahayana. Other movements have appeared in recent times, sometimes classified as Buddhist modernism.
While Buddhism remains most popular within Asia, both branches are now found throughout the world. Various sources put the number of Buddhists in the world at between 230 million and 500 million.[4][5][6][7]
The foundation of all Buddhist practice is ethical conduct and altruism. Further practices can vary widely, but may include renunciation, meditation, the cultivation of mindfulness and wisdom, the study of scriptures, physical exercises, devotion and ceremonies, or the invocation of bodhisattvas.
佛教由古印度的釋迦牟尼（被稱為佛陀）在大約西元前6世紀建立，與基督教和伊斯蘭教並列為世界三大宗教。[1]
「佛」，全稱「佛陀」，意思是覺悟者。[2]佛教重視人類心靈的進步和覺悟，人們的一切煩惱（苦）都是有因有緣的，“諸法因緣生，諸法因緣滅”。人和其他眾生一樣，沉淪於苦迫之中，並不斷的生死輪迴。惟有斷滅貪、嗔、痴的聖人（佛陀、辟支佛、和阿羅漢）才能脫離生死輪迴，達到涅槃（清涼寂靜之意，即無有煩惱），釋迦牟尼就在35歲時成佛，並對眾人宣揚他所發現的真理。佛教徒的目的即在於從佛陀的教育（正法）裏，看透苦迫和“自我”的真相（緣起法），最終超越生死和苦、斷盡一切煩惱，成佛，或者成阿羅漢。
現代佛教可分為南傳佛教與北傳佛教二大傳承，北傳佛教又可分為漢傳佛教與藏傳佛教，因此又可分為三大傳承（詳細的分類請參考佛教宗派）。南傳佛教大致上就是上座部佛教（又被稱為小乘佛教），北傳佛教大致上包括大乘佛教（主要是漢傳佛教），以及秘密大乘佛教或金剛乘佛教（主要是藏傳佛教）。各傳乘在佛教的根本教義基本上沒有大分別，在修行特色上與一些理論上則有分別，以菩薩行理論的分別為最顯著。
佛教目前主要流行於東亞、東南亞及南亞等地區，在歐洲、美洲、大洋洲和非洲也有少量信徒。
El budismo es una religión[2] no teísta[3] perteneciente a la familia dhármica y, según la filosofía hindú, de tipo nastika.[4] El budismo ha ido evolucionando en la historia hasta adquirir la gran diversidad de escuelas y prácticas hoy presentes.


Le bouddhisme est, selon les points de vue traditionnels, une philosophie, une spiritualité ou une religion[1] apparue en Inde au Ve siècle av. J.-C. Elle compterait aujourd'hui entre 230 et 500 millions d'adeptes[2]. Le bouddhisme présente un ensemble ramifié de pratiques méditatives, de pratiques éthiques, de théories psychologiques, philosophiques et cosmogoniques, abordées dans la perspective de la libération de l'insatisfaction, du plein épanouissement du potentiel humain, et ce, en relation personnelle avec une intangible et ultime réalité spirituelle.

Vitamin D boosts brain power in middle-aged men

WASHINGTON (AFP) - - Higher levels of vitamin D, synthesized in the skin after being exposed to the sun and found in oily fish, are associated with increased brain power among middle-aged men, according to a new British study.

The link between increased vitamin D and faster information processing "was more significant in men aged over 60 years old, although the biological reasons for this remain unclear," read the report, to appear in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry.
The study, conducted by researchers from the University of Manchester, in collaboration with other European specialists, compared the cognitive performance of more than 3,000 men between the ages of 40 and 79 years.
Men with higher levels of vitamin D "performed consistently better in a simple and sensitive neuropsychological test that assesses an individual's attention and speed of information processing," the study showed.
Resarchers "observed a significant, independent association between a slower information processing speed and lower levels of vitamin D," said lead author David Lee at Manchesters School of Translational Medicine.
The study is based on a large population sample and took into account other possible factors, such as depression, season and levels of physical activity.
The main source of vitamin D is 10 to 15 minutes daily exposure to sunlight. Oily fish are also an excellent source of vitamin D.
A separate 2008 study by researchers in Amsterdam showed that a lack of vitamin D could increase the risk of depression or other psychiatric problems among older people.

花龙舟

明天是端午节，浙江省长兴县后洋村龙舟队的队员昨天正在进行训练，准备参加端午节的全县龙舟大赛。这次大赛有全县12支农民龙舟代表队参加。长兴县的民间龙舟被称为“花龙舟”，以船身色彩绚丽、装点丰富而著称，当地农民赛龙舟已经有1700多年的历史。每逢端午，当地各村百姓派出自己的“花龙舟”，在比试龙舟图案色彩的同时，也比拼速度，展现村民们积极进取、不服输的精神，是当地一场热闹的民间传统赛事。（新华社）

脱发基因找到了！

日本科学家昨天说，他们通过老鼠试验已经找到了跟早期脱发有关的基因，为预防头发稀疏和秃头带来了希望。这个研究小组发现，当缺乏一种叫做Sox21的基因时，就会出现早期脱发，而且这种基因是人和老鼠都拥有的。研究人员用生物工程技术阻止了老鼠的Sox21基因起作用，结果发现这些啮齿动物在出生15天后头上开始掉毛，一星期后全身的毛都脱光，变成全秃了。从国立遗传研究所的这组照片可以看到，出生13天时的小老鼠全身毛茸茸的（上），16天后头上的毛就掉光了（中），到25天的时候全身光秃秃了（下）。（法新社）

无奇不有！长“翅膀”的猫

长翅膀的不一定是天使”，还可能是猫，你相信嘛？对于这只“长翅膀的猫”，重庆居民都很好奇，有人给它送吃的，有人给它梳毛，还有人给它取了个很可爱的名字——家飞。居民们说，这只全身白毛的猫是重庆电机厂家属区80多岁的刘婆婆养的。动物专家说，猫长“翅膀”在俄罗斯、美国等国家都发生过，“翅膀可能是多长出的器官，这种非正常现象，可能是由于环境污染的原因，导致猫的基因发生改变，出现生理缺陷。”

“热锅上的蚂蚁”美味

每年四月到六月期间，哥伦比亚桑坦德省的成千上万农民和居民，都会到田里去捕捉南美切叶蚁。南美切叶蚁长得很大，加以烹制后就成了当地一道独特的美味食品，可以自己食用或出售。这是当地一名男子正端起锅来翻炒蚂蚁。（路透社）

送企鹅回返家园

南非开普敦的南部非洲海鸟保育基金会昨天在当地一个海边，释放了84只非洲企鹅。这些企鹅都是该组织从非洲的纳米比亚南部海岸救回来的。那里发生的漏油事件使得企鹅身上的羽毛都沾满了油，该组织便展开了首个跨国拯救行动，并把企鹅带回南非为它们清理干净。看着这些左摇右晃的企鹅一步步走向大海，并且健康地回返它们的家园，保育人员的心中想必是充满了无限的欣慰。（法新社）