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The sage known as Buddha is also known by many other names. Sometimes he is called Gautama, Shakyamuni, or by his birth name, Siddhartha. Gautama was said to have lived somewhere between 600 BCE and 400 BCE, around five hundred years before the birth of Jesus Christ. Hundreds of millions of people adhere to the teachings of this sage today, millions more simply have a little brass Buddha statue as a good luck charm.
Gautama is said to have taught somewhere in the northeastern region of India and his name translates to "awakened one". His teachings were became the basis of the religion known as Buddhism and were a somewhat middle ground between two extremes being taught at the time. Gautama's teachings, stories, and life accounts are said to have been recorded after his death. Many of this beliefs were passed down by oral tradition before they could be written down.
Born into royalty and groomed to become a great king and leader of people, Siddhartha was actually very sheltered during his time as a prince. His father believed in keeping the knowledge of pain and suffering away from his son and it was only after Siddhartha stepped outside his palace walls did he acknowledge the concept of human suffering. This realization started a movement that would become the foundation of a religion that has survived to this day.
Historically Siddhartha was born a man and died a man. Buddhists have always believed that their great sage had superhuman abilities and was capable of miracles and omniscience. Buddhist scriptures depict the sage as having demi-god abilities and never having actually been mortal.
The purported birthplace of Siddhartha is in Nepal. Although it is uncertain as to when and where he was actually born, his followers celebrate his date of birth on April 8th. His life was filled with riches and opulence for the first twenty-nine years. After which he departed on a quest to understand the human condition.
After gaining many disciples along his journey, Gautama and his followers set themselves to the task of attaining enlightenment. Often they would try to find a pathway to an awakening through self-deprivation. By denying themselves the necessities of food, water, and shelter, the earliest Buddhists only harmed themselves, until Gautama found a new path through divine meditation.
Twenty-five hundred years after his death, Buddhism has become one of the major religions of the world. It is said to be the fourth largest after Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism. It is also said to have followers in the hundreds of millions if not close to a billion. There is no correct system to measure their numbers but most reside in China.
Having a statue of their religion's founder at home is tradition and considered to be good luck for Buddhists. Usually it comes in the form of a little brass Buddha statue somewhere within plain sight. The figurines come in different shapes, sizes, and poses. They range from the fat laughing Buddha that the western culture is more familiar with, to the calm meditative one. Having one of these statuettes isn't exclusive to adherents of the religion, many westerners also keep one as a good luck symbol or a decoration.
Gautama is said to have taught somewhere in the northeastern region of India and his name translates to "awakened one". His teachings were became the basis of the religion known as Buddhism and were a somewhat middle ground between two extremes being taught at the time. Gautama's teachings, stories, and life accounts are said to have been recorded after his death. Many of this beliefs were passed down by oral tradition before they could be written down.
Born into royalty and groomed to become a great king and leader of people, Siddhartha was actually very sheltered during his time as a prince. His father believed in keeping the knowledge of pain and suffering away from his son and it was only after Siddhartha stepped outside his palace walls did he acknowledge the concept of human suffering. This realization started a movement that would become the foundation of a religion that has survived to this day.
Historically Siddhartha was born a man and died a man. Buddhists have always believed that their great sage had superhuman abilities and was capable of miracles and omniscience. Buddhist scriptures depict the sage as having demi-god abilities and never having actually been mortal.
The purported birthplace of Siddhartha is in Nepal. Although it is uncertain as to when and where he was actually born, his followers celebrate his date of birth on April 8th. His life was filled with riches and opulence for the first twenty-nine years. After which he departed on a quest to understand the human condition.
After gaining many disciples along his journey, Gautama and his followers set themselves to the task of attaining enlightenment. Often they would try to find a pathway to an awakening through self-deprivation. By denying themselves the necessities of food, water, and shelter, the earliest Buddhists only harmed themselves, until Gautama found a new path through divine meditation.
Twenty-five hundred years after his death, Buddhism has become one of the major religions of the world. It is said to be the fourth largest after Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism. It is also said to have followers in the hundreds of millions if not close to a billion. There is no correct system to measure their numbers but most reside in China.
Having a statue of their religion's founder at home is tradition and considered to be good luck for Buddhists. Usually it comes in the form of a little brass Buddha statue somewhere within plain sight. The figurines come in different shapes, sizes, and poses. They range from the fat laughing Buddha that the western culture is more familiar with, to the calm meditative one. Having one of these statuettes isn't exclusive to adherents of the religion, many westerners also keep one as a good luck symbol or a decoration.
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