Buddhism was founded by Siddhartha Gautama. Gautama was born around 566 where he began life as a Kshatriya Prince. When he was young he lived a more sheltered life; not seeing the sickness and poverty he was surrounded by outside of the kingdom. When his charioteer drove him around one day he saw, for the first time, illness, old age, and death. Siddhartha was then determined to find out why these people were suffering and how it could be stopped. He left his wife and young son when he was 19 to travel all through-out India. He went about for seven years looking for the truth but did not find it. While meditating # under a tree one day he got a sudden burst of knowledge which he believed was the answer he was looking for all along. Gautama began to share his ideas with others. While dressed in a yellow robe he preached his message to people; his followers. This is how he earned the nicknames "The Buddha" and "The Enlightened One" by some of his close friends. .
The Buddha's first Sermon #was said to be performed in Isipatana, in front of twenty-five followers, in the 500s BC. At the very spot in which this occurred a big monastery was built. One thousand-five hundred monks lived here. The spot is now empty. The Buddha had started India's second, behind Hinduism. The Buddha is now known as one of the most important religious leaders in the world. He developed many teaching to go by.
To attain Nirvana # The Buddha developed The Four Noble Truths. These truths consisted of : #1)Suffering Exists #2) Suffering arises # from attachment to desires. #3) Suffering ceases # when attachment to desire ceases. #4) Freedom from suffering is possible by practicing The Eightfold Path.#.
The Eightfold Path that is mentioned in the Four Noble Truths are : #1) Right View. #2) Right Thought. #3) Right Speech. #4) Right Action. #5) Right Livelihood. # #6) Right Effort #7) Right Mindfulness #8) Right Contemplation.# #These are the things that the Buddha encouraged his followers to do.