Zen : A Practical Guide on Buddhism Defining and describing Buddhism is both easy and difficult—somewhat like many aspects of the religion or practice itself. On the one hand, it is a religious movement started by Siddhartha Gautama, a prince in the Nepal region. On the other hand, it is not so much a religion as a philosophy. But then again, it could be said that it is not really a philosophy so much as it is a way of living and looking at life.