Buddha

Traditionally known as Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha is understood as the founder of Buddhism and one of the world's most influential religious teachers. Reliable reference works describe him as a wandering ascetic and teacher who lived in the eastern Indo-Gangetic region sometime around the 6th or 5th century BCE, though exact dates remain uncertain.

According to the best-known accounts of his life, he was born into the Shakya community, left behind privilege and family life in search of truth, practiced severe asceticism, and then turned away from extremes before attaining enlightenment. He later taught a path focused on understanding suffering, ethical conduct, mental discipline, and liberation, gathering followers and establishing a community that helped spread his ideas.

Because he lived so long ago, much of what is told about him blends history, memory, and sacred tradition. Even so, the broad outline of his life and the enduring influence of his teachings are well established, and his example continues to inspire readers interested in philosophy, meditation, and the search for a more compassionate way to live.