Buddha: The Enlightened One

The Buddha, born as Siddhartha Gautam, was a spiritual luminary who lived in ancient India around
the 6th century BCE. His teachings form the bedrock of Buddhism, a path that millions follow
worldwide. Here are the key aspects of the Buddha’s life and teachings:

Birth and Early Life:

Siddhartha was born into a royal family in Lumbini (modern-day Nepal).

His father, King Suddhodhana, shielded him from the harsh realities of life.
Siddhartha’s quest for truth led him to renounce his princely life and seek enlightenment.

The Great Awakening:

After years of ascetic practices and meditation, Siddhartha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi
tree in Bodha
Gaya.
He realized the Four Noble Truths: the existence of suffering, its cause (craving), the possibility of
cessation, and the Eightfold Path leading to liberation.

Teachings:

The Buddha’s teachings emphasized compassion, mindfulness, and the impermanence of all things.
The Eightfold Path, comprising right view, intention, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness,
and concentration, guides practitioners toward enlightenment.

Legacy:

The Buddha’s teachings spread across India and beyond.

His followers, known as Buddhists, seek to follow the Noble Eightfold Path and attain Nirvana