BUDDHIST BELIEFS AND PRACTICESBuddhism beliefs and philosophy, based on the teachings of Gautama Buddha, is a branch of Eastern philosophy. Since the time of its start Buddhism has had a firm philosophical element. Buddhist philosophy rejects a number of traditional notions like those of atheism, theism, monism, and dualism. Lord Buddha criticized all these concepts and encouraged his disciples to discuss the problems in metaphysics, phenomenology, ethics and epistemology.