Gautama Buddha, also known simply as the Buddha, was a spiritual teacher and the founder of Buddhism. He lived in ancient India, and his teachings have had a profound and lasting impact on the spiritual and philosophical traditions of the world. Siddhartha Gautama, as he was originally named, was born in Lumbini (modern-day Nepal) around the 5th century BCE. Legend has it that Siddhartha lived a life of luxury and privilege as the son of a king. However, he became deeply troubled by the human suffering he observed, prompting him to embark on a spiritual quest to understand the nature of existence, the causes of suffering, and the path to liberation. At the age of 29, he renounced his princely life, leaving behind his family and palace, and began a life of asceticism. After years of rigorous ascetic practices and meditation, Siddhartha realized that extreme self-mortification did not lead to
