What are the major benefits or rewards to following Buddhism?

Buddhism is based on personal experience, rationalism, practice, morality, and insight. There is no need to propitiate gods or priests, no blind adherence to useless dogmas, rituals, holy books, or myths. The foundations of Buddhism, are not so much tenets of faith as demonstrable principles of perceptual science.

Buddhism can be approached in many different ways. It is commonly referred to as a religion, and it can be used in that way to feel a connection to divinity and inspire faith. But because Buddhism does not include the idea of worshipping a creator God, some people do not see it as a religion in the normal, Western sense, but instead as a philosophy.

"Neither mother, father, nor any other relative can do one greater good than one’s own well-directed mind. ~ Dhammapada 43"

Despite the variety of approaches to Buddhism, the teachings are clear about the ultimate goal of all Buddhist writing and practice. It presents the most effective possible method for a person to transform themselves and to end one’s suffering and secure lasting happiness. Buddhism is a path of practice and spiritual development leading to Insight into the true nature of life. Buddhist practices such as meditation are means of changing oneself in order to develop the qualities of awareness, kindness, and wisdom. The experience developed within the Buddhist tradition over thousands of years has created an incomparable resource for all those who wish to follow a path - a path which ultimately culminates in Enlightenment or Buddhahood.

The basic tenets of Buddhist teaching are straightforward and practical: nothing is fixed or permanent; actions have consequences; change is possible. Thus Buddhism addresses itself to all people irrespective of race, nationality, or gender. It teaches practical methods (such as meditation) which enable people to realise and utilise its teachings in order to transform their experience, to be fully responsible for their lives and to develop the qualities of Wisdom and Compassion. The Buddha’s teachings have made sense out of a difficult world, they have given meaning to what would otherwise be a senseless life, they give a humane and compassionate ethics with which to lead life and they show how you can attain a state of purity and perfection.

"Happy indeed we live, we who possess nothing. Feeders on joy we shall be, like the Radiant Gods. ~ Dhammapada 200"