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".Buddhism spread throughout the Indian subcontinent in the five centuries following the Buddha's passing, and into Asia and elsewhere over the next two millennia.

- East Asian Buddhism is derived from Indian Mahayana, which originated from within the
  Early Buddhist Schools.
- Northern Buddhism is derived from Indian Vajrayana, which originated from within Indian
  Mahayana, and distinguished itself from Mahayana by adopting the practice of tantra.
- Theravada, derived from one of the Early Buddhist schools, into which pre-sectarian
  Buddhism initially split.

Indian Buddhism has become virtually extinct, except in parts of Nepal. Buddhism continues to attract followers around the world and is considered a major world religion.