Buddha

Buddha, a title meaning "Awakened One" or "Enlightened One," designates someone who has achieved complete awakening. In Buddhism, a Buddha is a teacher who has realized the true nature of reality and helps others attain liberation. The term is most often applied to Siddhartha Gautama, the historical founder of Buddhism, though later traditions recognize multiple Buddhas across different ages.

Life of Siddhartha Gautama: Born into the Shakya clan in Lumbini and raised in Kapilavastu, he renounced palace life seeking truth, practiced meditation and asceticism, and attained enlightenment under a bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya. He taught for about 45 years, founded a monastic order, and died in Kushinagara, attaining Parinirvana.

Teachings: Core are the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, offering a practical path to end suffering. Key concepts include dependent origination, impermanence, and no-self, with Nirvana described as liberation from samsara.

Texts and tradition: Early teachings are preserved in the Pali Canon (Tipitaka) and related Agamas; Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions add additional sutras. The Buddhist community, or sangha, includes monks, nuns, and lay followers.

Legacy: Buddhism spread across Asia and beyond, shaping philosophy, art, and practice. Today it is practiced in Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana communities, with emphasis on meditation, ethics, and wisdom as central elements.