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Hello afourgonly,

These are some additional questions I have if anyone would like to answer:
1. What would you say are the most important components of the Buddhism faith?

Buddhism is not about faith but confidence gotten through understanding, practice and results. At least, at the very source of Buddhist teachings -the Nikayas- you will find instructions for practice and the development of wisdom so to quench dukkha ('suffering').

But, latter on, traditions developed and they become a kind of religious philosophy but in essence the teachings of Gotama Buddha are not about neither philosophical riddles nor religious believes.

2. How has your faith impacted your life? I am not into faith issues.

3. What holidays and celebrations do you observe? I do not practice any sort of celebrations or holidays.

4. In your own words, how would you summarize Buddhism? This are not my own words but summarize perfectly well my understanding of what Gotama Buddha taught:

"Sabbe Dhamma nalam abhinivesaya = Nothing should be clung to".

5. What made you choose to follow Buddhism? It's scientific approach to the nature of mind.

6. What are some of the challenges within practicing Buddhism? Meditation.

7. What are the traditions of Buddhism, and how have these traditions changed over time? Mainly three: Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana. I really don't know how traditions have changed over time. In my case, religion or philosophical religions are not a field of interest. I am completely focused in the discourses given by Gotama Buddha. The source of what later has been called 'Buddh-ism'.

8. What effect has the Western culture had on Buddhism? I do not live in a 'Buddhist' country or a country where Buddhism is well developed. So I can't tell. I can just speak of my personal experience.

9. How does karma and reincarnation work? Karma is about the consequences of our thoughts, intentions and actions in this very present life. Others speculate about past lives and future rebirth/reincarnation. Originally, the teachings of Gotama Buddha do not accept reincarnation but latter on, like in Tibetan Buddhism a -branch of the Mahayana religion-, reincarnation is believed and explained in detail.

I respect does believes as an important practice for that tradition and if it works well for them, it is all right.

10. How would you compare Buddhism to other faiths? I don't think that the teachings given by Gotama Buddha can be compared to any kind of faith.