The Buddha

Buddha, meaning "awakened one" or "the enlightened one," refers to a teacher who founded Buddhism in the 5th century BCE. The term originates from the Sanskrit and Pali word Buddha, which is derived from the verb budh, meaning "to awaken." In Hebrew, the term can be translated as בודהיסט (Budhist), although this refers more broadly to a follower of Buddhism. In Chinese, Buddha is known as Fó (佛), while in Japanese, it is Hotoke (仏) or Butsu (仏). The most widely acclaimed Buddha is Siddhartha Gautama, who is recognized as the founder of the Buddhist tradition. Born a prince in Lumbini (present-day Nepal), he renounced his luxurious lifestyle to seek enlightenment through meditation and asceticism. After attaining Nirvana, he spent the remainder of his life teaching the path to liberation from suffering, known as the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path. The teachings of Buddha emphasize mindfulness, ethical living, and the cultivation of wisdom and compassion.