Jain Network 2010 11

Author(s): Natubhai Shah
Publisher: UK Jain Network

Page 5

Major Nine Faiths
Baha'i The Baha'i faith was founded by Baha'u'llah in Iran in 1863. There are 6 million Bahá'ís in the world, in 235 countries and around 6,000 live in Britain. Bahá'ís believe there is one God and that all the universe and creation belong to him. Each human being has an immortal soul; they all are different, but equal; there should be no inequality between races or sexes. The central idea of the faith is that of unity; people should work together for the common benefit of humanity.
Beliefs and customs: Main festivals are Naw-Ruz (New year) on 21" or 22 March, Ridvan (Bahá'u'lláh's declaration of his mission) on 21st April to 2nd May, Period of Fast (2nd to 21" March). Baha'is' practise fasting, designated 19-day period of fasting each year immediately before the Baha'i New Year, as a discipline for the soul. Every Baha'i over the age of 15 must recite daily one of the three "obligatory” prayers and read extracts from scripture every morning and evening.
Baha'is' have a very open attitude to other faiths, and are
expected to treat members of other faiths with friendship and peace. The Baha'i community has been particularly active in the field of human rights and believes that the world should create a 'culture of human rights'
Buddhism Buddhism was founded by Gautama Buddha (566 to 486 BCE), It has 151, 816 in Britain according to the 2001 census and about 376 million followers worldwide. It is a spiritual tradition that focuses on personal spiritual development and the attainment of a deep insight into the true nature of life. It teaches that all life is interconnected, and the path to Enlightenment is through the practice and development of morality, meditation and wisdom.
Beliefs: Nothing is permanent; everything is transitory; the world is a chain of interdependent momentary events; everything derives from an antecedent condition, which ceases after producing its consequence. The soul is impermanent; it is a stream of consciousness; and attachment to the world produces suffering. It teaches four noble truths: the psycho-physical being, initial consciousness of the embryo, past karma and ignorance; and the eightfold path based on ethical conduct (sila), mental discipline (samaadhi) and wisdom (prajnaa). It believes in karma, and that everyone has to suffer or enjoy the consequences of their actions, except detached ones, either in this life or in lives hereafter. The three jewels of Buddhism are the Buddha, the