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Gautama Buddha
(INDIA- Founder of Buddhism)
LIFE: Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism, was a spiritual leader in the northern region of the Indian Sub continent. The time of his birth and death are uncertain: most of the early 20Th century historians date his lifeline from 563 BC to 483 BC and he was believed to be born at Lumbini in Nepal. At the age of 29, he visited many places, met many scholars and saints but he was not satisfied and started hard meditation. After 6 yeas of wandering and meditation, Siddhartha got enlightenment under a peepal tree in Gaya.Siddhatha got transformed into Buddha and the peepal tree became Bodhi Tree or Bodhi Vriksha. Buddha Attained Nirvana in Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh in 483 BC.
TEACHINGS: Buddha thought that the root cause of mankind suffering was desire. People could get rid of the torment of desires by following the eightfold path- right meditation , right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right memory, and right belief.
QUOTES: "Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it." -Buddha
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