Following the middle path
BMJ 2003; 327 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/sbmj.0311428 (Published 01 November 2003) Cite this as: BMJ 2003;327:0311428
- Fiona Pathiraja, fourth year medical student1
- 1Royal Free and University College, London
With more than 350 million followers, Buddhism is becoming a trendy faith in the West with many celebrities clamoring to take it up. Buddhists do not worship a god, rather they follow the teachings of the Buddha--the founder of Buddhism. The name Buddha actually means “enlightened one,” and enlightenment--a true understanding of the meaning of life--is what all Buddhists are striving for.
A central feature of the faith is meditation, during which you clear your mind and attempt to direct it to a positive state of calm, concentration, and awareness. There are many stereotypes of Buddhists who meditate; one picture is of a man with a long beard, sitting in the lotus position, …
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