Gautama Buddha

Gautama Buddha

According to Buddhist tradition, the historical figure of the Buddha Siddharta Gautamawas born at the beginning of the Sakya tribe of Magadha (546-324 BC), in a town, south ofthe Himalayas called Lumbini. Now the city is located in southern Nepal. He is also known as Shakyamuni (literally: the sage of the Sakya ").

After his early life full of luxury under the protection of his father, the king of Kapilavastu(later incorporated in the kingdom of Magadha), Siddharta see the reality of everyday lifeand draw the conclusion that the real life, in its essence is the misery that can not beavoided. Siddhartha then left the life of luxury which means nothing and become a hermit.Then he argues that the penance also means nothing, and then find the middle way(majhima patipada). This middle way is a compromise between the life that is too riotousindulgence and ascetic life is too torture yourself.

Under a bodhi tree, vowing he would never leave his position until he found Truth. At age 35, he attained enlightenment. At that time he was known as Gautama Buddha, or simply"The Buddha" alone, a Sanskrit word which means "he is aware" (from the budh + ta).

For the next 45 years, he traced the Ganges plains in central India (region of the flow ofriver Ganga and its tributaries), while spreading his teachings to a number of differentpeople.

Buddha's reluctance to appoint a successor or formalized his teachings lead to the emergence of many streams within the next 400 years: first of all streams Nikaya Buddhistsect, which now only remaining Theravada, Mahayana sect and then formed apan-Buddhist movement that is based on acceptance of new books.