Buddhism
Buddhism is a world religion and philosophy founded by Siddhartha Gautama, known as the Buddha, in ancient India around the 5th century BCE, centered on the path to overcoming suffering.
Siddhartha Gautama was born a prince in what is now Nepal but renounced his privileged life after witnessing human suffering, eventually attaining enlightenment and becoming known as the Buddha, or 'the awakened one.'
Central to Buddhist teaching are the Four Noble Truths, addressing the nature of suffering and the path to its end, and the Eightfold Path, a guide to ethical and mental development leading to enlightenment.
Buddhism spread from India across Asia, developing distinct traditions including Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana Buddhism, and today has hundreds of millions of adherents worldwide, particularly across East and Southeast Asia.
