religion | Lenn of Spades ♠

Wat Pho (The Temple of the Reclining Buddha), Bangkok, Thailand, 2023

Buddhism originated in South Asia roughly 2,500 years ago and is believed to be one of the world’s largest religions; over the next Millenia, Buddhism has spread across the world. Buddhists believe that life is a cycle of suffering and that by doing meditation, spiritual and physical labor, and having good behavior, they can escape this cycle of suffering and achieve what they call nirvana.

There are three major branches of Buddhism: Mahayana, Theravada, and Vajrayana — Theravada being the most common in Thailand. Theravada Buddhism emphasizes a monastic lifestyle and meditation as their way to enlightenment.