Untitled Gautama Buddha From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search "Buddha" and "Gautama"

redirect here. For other uses, see Buddha (disambiguation) and Gautama (disambiguation). Page semi-protected Gautama Buddha Buddha in Sarnath Museum (Dhammajak Mutra).jpg A statue of the Buddha from Sarnath, 4th century CE Born c. 563 BCE [1] Lumbini (present-day in Nepal), or possibly elsewhere Died c. 483 BCE (aged 80) or 411 and 400 BCE Kushinagar (present-day in Uttar Pradesh, India) Known for Founder of Buddhism Predecessor Kassapa Buddha Successor Maitreya Buddha Part of a series on Buddhism Dharma Wheel.svg History[show]

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Traditions Canons [show] Outline Portal icon Buddhism portal v t e Gautama Buddha, also known as Siddhrtha Gautama[note 1], Shakyamuni,[note 2], or simply the Buddha, was a sage[2] on whose teachings Buddhism was founded.[3] A native of the ancient Shakya republic in the Himalayan foothills,[4][note 3] Gautama Buddha taught primarily in northeastern India. Page 2

Untitled 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 (P. sammsambuddha, S. samyaksabuddha) of our age. [note 4] Gautama taught a Middle Way compared to the severe asceticism found in the Sramana (renunciation) movement [11] common in his region. He later taught throughout regions of eastern India such as Magadha and Koala.[12][13] The time of Gautama's birth and death is uncertain: most historians in the early 20th century dated his lifetime as circa 563 BCE to 483 BCE,[14] but more recent opinion dates his death to between 486 and 483 BCE or, according to some, between 411 and 400 BCE.[15] [note 5] However, at a symposium on this question held in 1988,[14] the majority of those who presented definite opinions gave dates within 20 years either side of 400 BCE for the Buddha's death. These alternative chronologies, however, have not yet been accepted by all other historians.[16][17] Gautama is the primary figure in Buddhism, and accounts 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.

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