WORLD HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -The founder of Buddhism, Siddhartha Gautama, was born circa 563 BCE into a wealthy family. Gautama rejected his life of riches and embraced a lifestyle of asceticism, or extreme self-discipline. After 49 consecutive days of meditation, Gautama became the Buddha, or “enlightened one”.

Detailed explanation-2: -The clan name of the historical figure referred to as the Buddha (whose life is known largely through legend) was Gautama (in Sanskrit) or Gotama (in Pali), and his given name was Siddhartha (Sanskrit: “he who achieves his aim”) or Siddhattha (in Pali).

Detailed explanation-3: -By finding the path to Enlightenment, Siddhartha was led from the pain of suffering and rebirth towards the path of Enlightenment and became known as the Buddha or ‘awakened one’.

Detailed explanation-4: -The Buddha believed that most suffering is caused by a tendency to crave or desire things. A person might crave something nice to eat or desire to go on a nice holiday or earn lots of money. Buddhism teaches that through being dissatisfied with their lives and craving things, people suffer.

Detailed explanation-5: -Siddhartha sat under the bodhi tree at Bodh Gaya and meditated all night. Triumphing over Mara, the evil demon of desire, Siddhartha reached nirvana, or enlightenment. Enlightenment refers to a spiritual awakening through which one abadons all desire and becomes content and at peace.