OriginsBuddhism originated in North India in the 5th century B.C.E. The religion can be traced back to a man named Siddhartha Gautama who is known as the Buddha (also known as the "Awakened" or "Enlightened One". Buddhism is one of the most followed religious paths in the world today.
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Founders
The Life of Siddhartha/the Buddha
Siddhartha Gautama (also known as the Buddha) was a son of a prince. His mother died a week after having Siddhartha, so he was raised by his aunt. Because he had special marks on his body, a sage predicted that he would be an illustrious person either as a world ruler or a great spiritual leader if he was exposed to the sight of suffering. He grew up in a luxurious palace that was walled to prevent Siddhartha from being exposed to suffering. Siddhartha married early and had a son. However, after disobeying his father, he left the royal grounds and was exposed to suffering of ordinary life. The Four Passing sights, which he was moved by, included an old man who was crooked and toothless, a sick man who was wasted by disease, a corpse that was being taken for cremation, and a sanyasin (a wandering holy man) who had no possessions but seemed to be at peace. At the age of 29, Siddhartha realized that his life had been a pleasant prison and felt that he did not want to live a programmed life. After exposure to suffering he became depressed and questioned the meaning of human experience. During an event called the Great Going Forth, since he no longer enjoyed his luxurious life, he escaped the palace grounds (leaving his family, attendants, his horse, jewels), cut off his long black hair, and put on simple clothing. Siddhartha traveled from teacher to teacher to learn meditation techniques and discussed philosophy but he was still unsatisfied. He spent about six years seeking answer to his many troubling questions. He was living on little food, drink, and sleep as possible, but after he was revived after collapsing from weakness, he decided to adopt a path of a middle way between self-indulgence and asceticism. One night, he entered increasingly profound states of awareness and finally achieved insight into release from suffering and rebirth. At dawn he reached a state of profound understanding and called his Awakening, or Enlightenment (bodhi), and his new name became the Buddha (or the Awakened One). His last words were “You must be your own lamps, be your own refuges. Take refuge in nothing outside yourselves. Hold firm to the truth as a lamp and a refuge, and do not look for refuge to anything besides yourselves,” (trust your own insights, and use self control to reach perfection and inner peace).
Molly, Michael. (2010). Experiencing the World’s Religions (5th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. pg.127-131
Siddhartha Gautama (also known as the Buddha) was a son of a prince. His mother died a week after having Siddhartha, so he was raised by his aunt. Because he had special marks on his body, a sage predicted that he would be an illustrious person either as a world ruler or a great spiritual leader if he was exposed to the sight of suffering. He grew up in a luxurious palace that was walled to prevent Siddhartha from being exposed to suffering. Siddhartha married early and had a son. However, after disobeying his father, he left the royal grounds and was exposed to suffering of ordinary life. The Four Passing sights, which he was moved by, included an old man who was crooked and toothless, a sick man who was wasted by disease, a corpse that was being taken for cremation, and a sanyasin (a wandering holy man) who had no possessions but seemed to be at peace. At the age of 29, Siddhartha realized that his life had been a pleasant prison and felt that he did not want to live a programmed life. After exposure to suffering he became depressed and questioned the meaning of human experience. During an event called the Great Going Forth, since he no longer enjoyed his luxurious life, he escaped the palace grounds (leaving his family, attendants, his horse, jewels), cut off his long black hair, and put on simple clothing. Siddhartha traveled from teacher to teacher to learn meditation techniques and discussed philosophy but he was still unsatisfied. He spent about six years seeking answer to his many troubling questions. He was living on little food, drink, and sleep as possible, but after he was revived after collapsing from weakness, he decided to adopt a path of a middle way between self-indulgence and asceticism. One night, he entered increasingly profound states of awareness and finally achieved insight into release from suffering and rebirth. At dawn he reached a state of profound understanding and called his Awakening, or Enlightenment (bodhi), and his new name became the Buddha (or the Awakened One). His last words were “You must be your own lamps, be your own refuges. Take refuge in nothing outside yourselves. Hold firm to the truth as a lamp and a refuge, and do not look for refuge to anything besides yourselves,” (trust your own insights, and use self control to reach perfection and inner peace).
Molly, Michael. (2010). Experiencing the World’s Religions (5th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. pg.127-131