the three jewels protect them. This is
expressed in the Buddhist prayer, “I take
refuge in the Buddha. I take refuge in
the dharma. I take refuge in the sangha.”
Divisions
Many years after the Buddha’s death
two major groups appeared among his
followers. One group followed a branch
known as Theravada, meaning “Way of
the Elders.” It is the older and more
conservative branch of Buddhism. Many
people in Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand,
Laos, and Cambodia belong to this
group.
The other group is called Mahayana.
This form of Buddhism is popular in
Mongolia, China (including Tibet),
Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and Nepal. Zen
Buddhism comes from Mahayana
Buddhism.
The Theravada Buddhists concentrate
on freeing themselves through improving
their own lives. Mahayana Buddhists
believe they can achieve enlightenment
through a life of good work for others.
Buddhist monks wear simple robes and
often live in communities called monasteries.
Prayer flags line a walkway near the site
where the Buddha experienced his enlightenment.
144 Buddhism BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA
History
The Buddha began teaching his philosophy
after receiving enlightenment. One
day he sat down under a tree in Bodh
Gaya (now in the state of Bihar in India)
and began meditating. On the 49th day,
he achieved enlightenment and so was
freed from suffering. He became known
as the Buddha, which means “enlightened
one.”
According to tradition, the Buddha lived
and taught for 45 years after his enlightenment.
The Buddha preached in Pali,
which was the language of the common
people. He believed that his teachings
were for everyone and not just scholars.
However, he did not write down his
teachings. The Buddha’s followers
shared his teachings with other people
by word of mouth. These teachings were
not put in writing until many years after
the Buddha’s death.
The Buddha established a religious order
known as the sangha. Many of its members
were wandering monks, as the Buddha
himself had been. After the
Buddha’s death, these monks helped
spread Buddhism through northern
India. In the 200s BC Buddhism gained
a powerful sponsor. Asoka, the ruler of
an empire that spanned most of South
Asia, embraced and promoted the religion.
He built many Buddhist monuments
and monasteries.
Buddhism later declined somewhat in
India. But from India, Buddhism spread
to Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia as well
as through central Asia and Tibet and
into China, Korea, and Japan.
..More to explore
Buddha • Monk
Buenos Aires
Population
(2001 census),
city, 2,776,138;
urban area,
11,460,575
Buenos Aires is the capital of Argentina,
a country of southern South America. It
is one of the largest cities in South
America. The city is a center of business,
politics, and culture. Buenos Aires is also
a leading port. It lies on the Parana
River near the Atlantic Ocean.
The Plaza de la Republica is one of the
major public squares in Buenos Aires.
BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Buenos Aires 145
Cityscape
Buenos Aires has many plazas and parks.
Its most important public square is the
Plaza de Mayo. The home of Argentina’s
president and other government buildings
surround the square.
There are also many museums and other
cultural sites in Buenos Aires. The
Colon Theatre is a well-known opera
house. It is also home to the national
ballet and symphony. Buenos Aires is
also known as a center for popular dance
and music. The dance called the tango
was born there in the late 1800s.
Economy
The port at Buenos Aires is the largest in
South America. Shipping goods through
the port is important to the city’s
economy. Manufacturing and service
industries also bring money to Buenos
Aires. Factories in the city process foods,
work metals, put together cars, and process
oil. Others make cloth, paper, and
chemicals. Printing, publishing, and
banking are also important.
History
The Spanish founded Buenos Aires in
1580. The city grew gradually over the
next 200 years. In 1776 Buenos Aires
became the capital of a large Spanish
province. Buenos Aires grew rapidly as a
center of trade. In the early 1800s
Argentina became free of Spanish rule.
Buenos Aires became its capital in 1880.
During the 1900s the city’s industries
grew. Buenos Aires suffered economic
problems in 2001. Afterward the
economy began to grow again. But poverty
and crime had become larger problems
in the city.
#More to explore
Argentina
Buffalo
Buffalo are mammals of Africa and Asia.
The American bison is often called a
buffalo, but it is not a true buffalo. Buffalo
are closely related to bison, cattle,
and yaks.
There are several types of buffalo. The
Cape buffalo lives in Africa, often in
grasslands or plains. It is also called the
African buffalo.
The buffalo of Asia include the water
buffalo, the anoa, and the tamarau. The
water buffalo can be found wild in
Southeast Asia. It lives in swamps, forests,
and grasslands near water. People
raise water buffalo as farm animals in
Asia and other parts of the world. They
use these animals to pull farm equip-
The people of
Buenos Aires
call themselves
portenos
because Buenos
Aires is a
port city.
The Cape buffalo is the only kind of buffalo
