Almost 90 percent of the population practices Buddhism, a major religion with some 300 million followers worldwide. The essence of Buddhism is found in what is known as The Four Noble Truths. These 4 truths teach that all life involves suffering and this suffering comes from desire or greed for people or things. Only by learning to live without desire will this suffering stop. So the Buddhist strives for enlightenment, or detachment from worldly things.

Enlightenment can be achieved only by following the Eight-Fold Path, or Middle Way. This is a belief that avoids extremes and emphasizes good deeds. Doing good deeds in this life is thought to bring the believer closer to a higher spiritual plane called nirvana. All Buddhists try to follow the Five Precepts of conduct. These rules of conduct are not to lie, steal, kill (even insects), take intoxicants (such as alcohol or drugs), or commit sexual misconduct.

Buddhists believe to reach nirvana, a person must be reborn and live many lives, each a little better, than the one before. Meditation and prayer count as good deeds. Other commendable works include almsgiving, worshiping in pagodas, shrines, or at altars, and acting generously without expecting any return in this life. Because earning merit is so important, many Buddhists give food to monks and nuns, hold feasts to feed lots of guests, and donate money to repair or build pagodas.

Buddhism is a religion of works. Its followers are attempting to earn their spiritual enlightenment by performing good deeds. The more good deeds they do the closer they are to the spiritual plane called nirvana. Since no one can earn salvation by good deeds, these people are in need of the saving grace of Jesus Christ through faith in him. The Scriptures teach in Ephesians 2:8-9 " For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast."
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