Siddhartha Gautama

Siddhartha Gautama (transliterated from Sanskrit सिद्धार्थ गौतम; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama), known as the Buddha (meaning "awakened one" or "enlightened one"), is the founder of Buddhism. Born a wealthy prince in the fifth century B.C., the future Buddha lived a life of pleasure, shielded from the misery outside the palace. When he found out what life was really like for most people—encountering old age, sickness, and death—he left to find answers and eventually reached a state of enlightenment and came up with the Buddhist religion/philosophy. After traveling the land teaching his insights for 45 years, he died at about 80 years of age. The Buddha taught neither the existence of a god or gods nor the non-existence of a god or gods. He contended that such beliefs were not helpful in realizing enlightenment.[1]

## See also[edit]

v • d • e

Buddhism

Buddhas|

Buddha • Siddhartha Gautama • Tatagatha

Dharma|

Refuge • Five Precepts • Four Noble Truths • Dependent origination • Ten Perfections • Shastra • Abhidharma • Theravada • Mahayana • Karma

Sangha|

Arhat • Bodhisattva • Dalai Lama

* * *

v • d • e

Indian philosophy

Major Philosophies|

Yoga • Vedanta • Buddhism • Jainism

Related topics|

Dharma • Dharmic religion • Karma • Ahimsa • Religious vegetarianism • Meditation • Moksha • Nirvana • Vedas • Upanishads • Bhagavad Gita • Mahabharata • Hinduism • Hinduism and evolution • Reincarnation • Chakras • Caste • Jainism

## External links[edit]

* The Life of The Buddha
* Internet Sacred Texts Archive :: Buddhism

"Indeed, the Blessed One is worthy and rightly self-awakened, consummate in knowledge & conduct, well-gone, an expert with regard to the world, unexcelled as a trainer for those people fit to be tamed, the Teacher of divine & human beings, awakened, blessed."[2]

## References[edit]

1. ↑ http://buddhism.about.com/od/basicbuddhistteachings/a/buddhaatheism.htm
2. ↑ [1]