"Buddham Saranam Gachhami,

Dhammam Saranam Gachhami,

Sangham Saranam Gachhami"

"To gain an entrance into Buddhism, we must first seek refuge at our Guru (teacher’s) feet, on the Marg (path) paved for us, within the Sangham (community) he has forged."

The literal translation of Buddha is that of a ‘Learned One’, while its deeper interpretation suggests him, who is the ‘Awakened One’. To understand the philosophies governing Buddhist practices, one must understand the concept of Karma.

Karma is the cumulative of the actions that helps identify the nature and quality of one’s future lives. As the foundation to the Sanatana Dharma, of which Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism and Hinduism are a part of, Karma plays an important role in binding an individual to the Samsara (cyclical nature of life and rebirth). There exists a notion of Moksha or Nirvana (liberation or enlightenment) that can be attained if one does Dhyana.