Buddhism

The Four Noble Truths form Buddhism's diagnostic framework for understanding human existence and suffering. First, the Truth of Suffering (dukkha) recognizes that life inherently involves dissatisfaction, pain, and impermanence.

The Buddhist doctrine of anatta (no-self) stands in stark contrast to most religious traditions that posit an eternal, unchanging soul or self. While Hinduism teaches about the atman (eternal soul), Christianity speaks of an immortal soul, and Islam describes the ruh (spirit), Buddhism argues that what we consider "self" is actually a constantly changing collection of physical and mental processes called the Five Aggregates (form, sensation, perception, mental formations, and consciousness).

In Buddhism, karma and rebirth are intimately connected through the principle of ethical causality. Karma refers to intentional actions (physical, verbal, and mental) that create consequences extending beyond this lifetime.

Buddhism has undergone remarkable adaptation in the modern era while preserving its essential teachings. In the West, Buddhism has been integrated with psychology and neuroscience, leading to evidence-based mindfulness practices used in healthcare and education.

This question reveals the complexity of religious categorization and challenges Western definitions of religion. Buddhism exhibits characteristics of both religion and philosophy.