Buddhism

Buddhism is a religion based firmly in impermanence. The religion was founded by Siddhartha Gautama (560-480 BCE), who was a young Indian prince. He led a sheltered life until he saw ‘the four sights’ which were old age, illness, death, and a Hindu monk begging. Curious about the path chosen by this monk Siddhartha left home to live a life of complete poverty. He spent six years meditating in hope of finding the source of all suffering in the world and learns the cause of all the suffering in the world is desire and greed. He taught the Middle Way, which implies that the perfect life is one directly in between poverty and excess, the body needs to be provided enough to meet its needs and nothing more.

Siddhartha was the first individual to reach Nirvana, which essentially means the clearest understanding, and the escape from the endless cycle of reincarnation. After he reached Nirvana Siddhartha became the Buddha and began to teach his ideas to everyone around him. Buddhism spread quickly due to its practical nature and its emphasis on the fact that anyone can reach Nirvana no matter what their financial or social status. It spread quickly through Asia, and it broke into many different sects. The focus of the religion is not on gods or tradition but on personal fortitude. A person who reaches Nirvana is called a buddha, and some choose not to end their cycle of rebirth and come back to earth as Bodhisattvas. Bodhisattvas are actually commonly featured in the series.

Despite the fact that Miroku many times makes clear that he has studied Buddhists teachings (often spouting them to Inuyasha). He does not follow them very well. He does not seem to think that a life of poverty is for him it seems.