Buddha

Buddha refers to Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism, who lived in ancient India between the 6th and 4th centuries BCE. He is also known as Shakyamuni Buddha, meaning "Sage of the Shakyas," the name of the tribe to which he belonged.

Early Life

Siddhartha Gautama was born in Lumbini, in present-day Nepal, to King Suddhodana and Queen Maya. He was raised in the royal court of the Shakya clan in Kapilavastu. According to tradition, he led a sheltered life, shielded from the sufferings of the world.

Renunciation and Enlightenment

At the age of 29, Siddhartha ventured outside the palace and encountered the "Four Sights": an old man, a sick man, a dead body, and an ascetic. These experiences led him to renounce his royal life and seek the truth about suffering. He practiced severe asceticism for six years before realizing that extreme self-denial was not the path to enlightenment. He then adopted the Middle Way, a path of moderation.

Under the Bodhi Tree in Bodh Gaya, Siddhartha meditated and attained enlightenment, becoming the Buddha. This event is known as the Great Awakening.

Teachings

The Buddha's teachings are encapsulated in the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path. The Four Noble Truths are: 1. The truth of suffering (Dukkha) 2. The truth of the cause of suffering (Samudaya) 3. The truth of the end of suffering (Nirodha) 4. The truth of the path leading to the end of suffering (Magga)

The Noble Eightfold Path consists of: 1. Right Understanding 2. Right Intent 3. Right Speech 4. Right Action 5. Right Livelihood 6. Right Effort 7. Right Mindfulness 8. Right Concentration

Legacy

The Buddha spent the rest of his life teaching the Dharma and establishing the Sangha, a community of monks and nuns. His teachings spread throughout Asia, leading to the development of various schools of Buddhism, including Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana.

Death

The Buddha passed away at the age of 80 in Kushinagar, achieving Parinirvana, the final release from the cycle of birth and death.

See Also

• Buddhism
• Four Noble Truths
• Noble Eightfold Path
• Dharma
• Sangha
• Theravada
• Mahayana
• Vajrayana