Buddhism is a path of spiritual development leading to insight into the true nature of reality. Meditation is the central religious practice of Buddhism and becomes the means of changing oneself in order to develop qualities of awareness, kindness, and wisdom.

If we compare people’s minds and hearts to pools of water that have been muddied with troubling thoughts and agitating emotions, then the quietness and peace of mind that meditation brings enables the mud to settle and allows one to achieve stillness, clarity, and the beauty of present moment awareness.

The basic tenets of Buddhism are straightforward and practical, addressing all people irrespective of race, nationality, caste or gender and leads one to a path which ultimately culminates in Enlightenment, or Buddhahood. Here a young Buddhist boy is praying for “The Awakening.”