Buddhism is regarded as one of the great religions of the world. However Buddhism does not fit with our usual idea of a religion because it does not believe in the concept of a supreme being or God. So it is sometimes thought of as a philosophy or even a psychology, but is probably best described as a way of living, based on the practice of meditation. There are as many forms of meditation as there are schools of Buddhism. Originating in India 2500 years ago, Buddhism spread throughout the Far East, changing and adapting to the many cultures and peoples which embraced it. Recently it has found followers in western countries, especially in Europe and North America, and is said to be the fastest growing "religion" in the West!

Buddha was regarded not as a divine saviour but as an ordinary human being, one who was able to realise his own full potential as the embodiment of wisdom and compassion. His advice to his disciples was to practice meditation and through that to develop their own inherently good human qualities to achieve a peaceful and harmonious life. Buddhists believe that all beings possess this potential for great wisdom and compassion, but these qualities are covered over by a misunderstanding of our true nature and the nature of existence.

Although the different schools of Buddhism each have a distinctive flavour and mode of expression, they are all based on the earliest teachings of the Buddha, which are: -all things are impermanent. -life is pervaded with suffering. -our sense of an enduring individual sense of self is an illusion. -lasting happiness and peace (nirvana) can only be found when we fully embrace these basic truths.

Although the practices of Buddhism vary across cultures, meditation lies at the heart of all of them. The purpose of this meditation is to develop our mind's ability to become more calm and open, thus enabling us to live peacefully in the world with our fellow beings. Buddhists such as the Dalai Lama and Burma's Aung San Suu Kyi are living examples of the men and women of many different religious philosophies who have courageously embraced non- violence and who are working to bring even the most difficult political conflicts to a peaceful resolution. If you are interested in finding out more about Buddhism and meditation, start with the internet. There are many different groups in Central and SW France to explore, teaching contemplative disciplines from meditation to Japanese arts.