Who was Buddha?
Buddha Shakyamuni, after whom Buddhism is named, was born as the Indian prince Siddhartha 2,500 years ago. Although materially, he had everything we could imagine anyone ever wanting, he became restless and disturbed when he realized that he and everyone else have no choice but to experience suffering and eventually death, with no control. Leaving his status, wealth, and family behind, Siddhartha embarked on a spiritual journey which culminated in his becoming a Buddha, or an enlightened being. He lived for another fifty years, giving over 84,000 teachings which form the basis of Buddhism as we know it today.
