Buddhism can be confusing because to some people it seems like a religion, to others it seems like a philosophy, and to others it seems like an ancient tradition of psychology. Buddhism, however, cannot be reduced to any of these categories. At its heart, Buddhism is a world view based upon the awakening of the Buddha, and a way of life that leads to and is consistent with an awakened world view. This “awakening” refers to an awakening from the sleep of delusion and self-centeredness. This is the enlightenment that freed the Buddha from suffering and enabled him to reach out compassionately to others so that they could share his freedom. The Buddha also described and demonstrated the perfect wisdom and great compassion of one who had awakened to the true nature of reality.