" The founder of the educational system used the title Shakyamuni Buddha since he believed to have gained a comprehensive understanding of life and the universe. Since the Buddha did not recognize the role of a deity in his teaching, he comes out as a teacher, which confirms that Buddhism is a philosophy, not a religion ("Buddhism in a Nutshell ").
Another element that makes Buddhism a philosophy is that it does not obligate one to have faith or be superstitious. Unlike most religious leaders, the Buddha taught against believing anything blindly. He wants people to test the authenticity of the teachings and prove them for themselves. He also wants people to have in-depth information on any subject before following, and not merely believing all teachings. If the Buddha were a spiritual person, he could have depended on some divine sources of power or information. His teachings come from his personal life experience. The Buddha's teachings portray him just as a good friend who is telling people to avoid certain pitfalls that almost caused him life. Instead of depending on hearsay and religious rhetoric, the Buddha uses an ideal scientific method to show human beings reality in its natural form ("Buddhism in a Nutshell ").
The next indication that Buddhism is a philosophy is that all ˜rites and celebration' are centered on the people attending assemblies. Religion requires rites and celebration to focus on God. The ceremonies and celebrations in Buddhism are not worship tools. They serve as educational materials that help learners reflect on the teachings and encouragement of the Buddha. One such rites that the learners often depend on is the Thousand Buddha's Repentance Ceremony. The Chinese practice this ceremony during the New Year. The rite helps participants to develop respectful attitudes towards others. All the Buddha ceremonies focus on awakening people from the delusion and returning them to Wisdom and Understanding (Faure 93).