One of the major world religions, which began in India with the teachings of Gautama Buddha, who lived nearly 2,600 years ago, when the population of the Subcontinent was, obviously, much smaller and was either Hindu or animist. Buddhism spread across the northern part of the Subcontinent and northwest to Afghanistan and into China. It was also carried to Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia. Buddhism remains the dominant religion in Sri Lanka and in Bhutan, and an important religion in Nepal, as well as in Burma and Thailand. Although the number of Buddhists in India is now relatively small, India remains an important pilgrimage place for Buddhists from all sects all over the world. Though the Buddha preached nonviolence, not all Buddhists are vegetarians.
