Gautama Buddha

Who was the Buddha?

Siddhartha Gautama, most commonly referred to as the Buddha, was a wandering ascetic and religious teacher who lived in the eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains during the 6th or 5th century BCE. He became an "enlightened one" who attained freedom from the state of suffering and ignorance, reaching nirvana. The religion based on his teachings is known as Buddhism.

Core Teachings

Buddhism is centered around core principles designed to end suffering. These include the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path.

• Life is suffering (dukkha).
• Suffering is caused by desire.
• The cessation of suffering is possible.
• The path to the cessation of suffering is the Eightfold Path.