What is Buddhism?

I know a tad little bit about Nicheren (spelling?) Buddhism. They follow the last chapter of the Lotus Sutra, and their chant is nam myo-ho renge kyo. I think Nicheren Buddhism is a Japanese sect.

I think it all depends on what branch of Buddhism it is. There are many sects of Buddhism.

Buddhism is a dharmic, non-theistic religion and a philosophy. Buddhism is also known as Buddha Dharma or Dhamma, which means the "teachings of the Awakened One" in Sanskrit and Pali, languages of ancient Buddhist texts. Buddhism was founded around the fifth century BCE by Siddhartha Gautama, hereafter referred to as "the Buddha".

The Four Noble Truths
According to the scriptures, the Buddha taught that in life there exists sorrow/ suffering which is caused by desire and it can be cured (ceased) by following the Noble Eightfold Path. This teaching is called the Catvary Aryasatyani the "Four Noble Truths".

Suffering: Birth is suffering, aging is suffering, illness is suffering, death is suffering; union with what is displeasing is suffering; separation from what is pleasing is suffering; not to get what one wants is suffering; in brief, the five aggregates subject to clinging are suffering. The cause of suffering: The desire which leads to renewed existence (rebirth) (the cycle of samsara).The cessation of suffering: The cessation of desire. The way leading to the cessation of suffering: The Noble Eightfold Path;

According to the scriptures, the Four Noble Truths were among the topics of the first sermon given by the Buddha after his enlightenment, which was given to the five ascetics with whom he had practiced austerities, and were originally spoken by the Buddha, not in the form of a religious or philosophical text, but in the form of a common medical prescription of the time. The traditional understanding in the Theravada is that these are an advanced teaching for those who are ready for them.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism

This is inteligent and respected religion. Try to look some books or materials online. Good luck:-)

hey
i am a buddhist
actually a real buddhist is vegetarian ..
if you go to tibet, you can see monks who lead simple lives, where they eat no meat and they cannot receive donations from people.
buddhism is actually telling us to lead simple lives.

Buddhism has as its central idea that the 'ego' is imaginary, kind of a cosmic joke. The 'self' does exist, but whatever I perceive as 'I' is just imagination. Makes a lot of sense to me. But anyway, through the creation of this 'ego' there came suffering unto this world. Because the 'ego' desires, wants, and gets angry or nasty or whatever when it doesn't get that which it covets. Perfect bliss for example could be achieved by totally accepting that which is, without adding nor taking away. But that's kind of hard to do, isn't it?

I practice Buddhism and have for a few yrs now...mind you being spoiled from living in the western world and having kids who are also spoiled I live it in more of a modern, Western fashion.....that being said, here are the basic teachings, principals etc for Buddhism

The 4 Noble Truths have been mentioned already the 1st being - life is suffering, the 2nd being - our suffering has purpose, the 3rd being - we can conqure our suffering and attain happiness and the 4th Truth being - following the 8 Fold Path/the Way is how we end our suffering..

The 8 Fold Path consists of the following

1. Right View, Understanding
2. Right Attitude, Thought or Emotion
3. Right Speech
4. Right Action
5. Right livelihood
6. Right Effort, Energy, and Vitality
7. Right Mindfulness or Awareness
8. Right Concentration

then you have the I guess you could say "code of conduct" which is called the 5 Precepts

1. Abstain from killing any living thing
2. Abstain from stealing in any form
3. Abstain from sexual misconduct
4. Abstain from false speech/lying
5. Abstain from substances that confuse the mind. (meaning drugs and/or alcohol)

In my view,buddism is a high level of compassionate, and people who can practiced being compassionate is a buddhist.

I am a Roman Catholic who stongly believe in Buddhism. In a nutshell Buddhism says that for what you do there will be repurcussions. Good will be rewarded with good and evil will be retributed by evil. This cycle will go beyond the present birth.