NOT TO DO ANY EVIL; TO CULTIVATE GOOD; TO HAVE PURIFY ONE'S HEARTS- THIS IS THE TEACHING OF ALL THE BUDDHAS . ALTHOUGH BUDDHISTS VALUE HIGHLY SUCH VIRTUES AS LOVING KINDNESS, HUMANITY, PATIENCE AND GIVING, PERHAPS THEY VALUE WISDOM AND COMPASSION MOST OF ALL. THE IDEA OF AHIMSA OR HARMLESSNESS IS VERY CLOSELY CONNECTED WITH COMPASSION. THE COMPASSIONATE DESIRE TO CAUSE NO HARM TO ALL BEINGS INCLUDING ANIMALS, PLANTS, AND THE WORLD IN GENERAL. IN ALL THINGS BUDDHISM PLACES GREAT STRESS ON SELF-RELIANCE AND THE BUDDHAS HIMSELF TOLD HIS FOLLOWERS NOT TO BELIEVE WITHOUT QUESTIONING, BUT TO TEST IT FOR THEMSELVES. BUDDHISM IS ALSO A VERY PRACTICAL RELIGION AND AIMS AT HELPING PEOPLE TO LIVE THEIR LIVES PEACEFULLY. BUDDHISTS ALSO TRY TO PRACTICE THE BUDDHIST VIRTUES ACTIVELY IN THEIR EVERYDAY LIVES. THE FINAL GOAL OF ALL BUDDHIST PRACTICE IS TO BRING ABOUT THAT SAME AWAKENING THAT THE BUDDHAS HIMSELF ACHIEVED THROUGH AN ACTIVE TRANSFORMATION OF THE HEART ️ AND PASSIONS.