Gautama Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama)

Gautama Buddha, also known as Siddhartha Gautama, was a spiritual teacher who founded Buddhism around the 5th to 6th century BCE. Born into a royal family in what is now Nepal, he sought understanding of human suffering. Through meditation and reflection, he discovered the Four Noble Truths, which explain that suffering exists, arises from desire, can be overcome, and the path to liberation is the Eightfold Path. His teachings emphasize mindfulness, ethical conduct, and mental discipline, aiming to help individuals achieve enlightenment or Nirvana—a state free from suffering and rebirth.