Gautama Buddha

Who is Gautama Buddha?

Gautama Buddha, also known as Siddhārtha Gautama, Shakyamuni, or simply the Buddha, was a sage on whose teachings Buddhism was founded. Born in the Shakya republic in the Himalayan foothills sometime between the sixth and fourth centuries BCE, Gautama Buddha taught primarily in northeastern India.

Buddha means "awakened one" or "the enlightened one." "Buddha" is also used as a title for the first awakened being in an era. In most Buddhist traditions, Siddhartha Gautama is regarded as the Supreme Buddha of our age.

Gautama taught a Middle Way between sensual indulgence and the severe asceticism found in the Sramana movement common in his region. He later taught throughout regions of eastern India such as Magadha and Kośala.

Gautama is the primary figure in Buddhism, and account of his life, discourses, and monastic rules are believed by Buddhists to have been summarized after his death and memorized by his followers. Various collections of teachings attributed to him were passed down by oral tradition, and first committed to writing about 400 years later.

Famous Quotes:

• Fashion your life as a garland of beautiful deeds.
• Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one getting burned.
• Those who are free of resentful thoughts surely find peace.
• On life's journey faith is nourishment, virtuous deeds are a shelter, wisdom is the light by day and right mindfulness is the protection by night. If a man lives a pure life, nothing can destroy him.
• Everything changes, nothing remains without change.
• A good friend who points out mistakes and imperfections and rebukes evil is to be respected as if he reveals a secret of hidden treasure.
• You will not be punished for your anger, you will be punished by your anger.
• Through zeal, knowledge is gotten; through lack of zeal, knowledge is lost.
• The Buddhas do but tell the way; it is for you to swelter at the task.
• Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.