Buddha means "enlightened one" and the epitaph was applied to Siddharta Gautama, the founder of Buddhism. At age 29, Buddha left his wife and family to go on a religious quest. He sought "Nirvana," first through the instructions of two religious teachers, and then through extreme ascetic practices. Both experiences proved unsatisfactory for him, and by returning to his natural regimen, he finally gained his enlightenment.

Buddha's doctrine of the Four Truths is: that life is suffering; that the source of suffering is craving; that suffering can cease; and that right living and mental discipline can bring about the removal of suffering.



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Stephen Lauf © 2004.11.18