Although historical verification of the stories of the origin of Buddhism is impossible, this tradition does arise in the sixth century B.C.E., and is initially focused on the life of Siddhartha Gautama, a prince of the Shakya clan. Siddhartha, after seeing the traumatic reality of death, disease, and old age, set out on a quest to be relieved of the suffering that characterizes life. His quest took several turns, but the middle path he eventually trod led to his enlightenment. Through this experience, it is said that he became awake. He became a "Buddha- "an awakened one. Buddhism, however, does not worship the Buddha. In fact, this religion does not worship a personal God. Buddhism is fundamentally a religion of wisdom, enlightenment, and compassion, the qualities embodied by Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha.
Perhaps the best summary of the teachings of Buddhism came from the Buddha himself, immediately after he was awakened. His first "sermon- is sometimes called "The Four Noble Truths."" The first of these truths preached by the Buddha is that all life is suffering. Even those events that seem good and pure do not last; they are impermanent. Thus the desire to maintain the purity and the goodness will, in the end, be frustrated, and there will be suffering. The second noble truth is that this suffering is caused by selfish desire. As long as there burns the fire of desire, there will be the result of that desire "suffering. The third noble truth is that suffering can be eliminated if desire is removed. This experience is called Nirvana, the cessation of suffering. Finally, the last of the four noble truths prescribes a path to eliminate suffering. The Eightfold path, the way to eliminate desires and thus eliminate suffering, includes right understanding, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, mindfulness, and right meditation. Although not absolutely prescriptive, according to the Buddha this path leads toward the goal of Nirvana, the awakening where suffering ceases.
