Gautama Buddha
Buddhism's founding teacher
Gautama Buddha, also called the Buddha or Siddhartha Gautama, was the founder of Buddhism, a spiritual teacher who lived in ancient India around the 5th century BCE.
Born a prince, he renounced his privileged life after encountering human suffering, eventually achieving enlightenment through meditation.
His teachings on the path to liberation from suffering—including the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path—form the foundation of Buddhist philosophy and practice worldwide.
Enlightenment-seeking Eastern religion
- SanghaBuddhist monastic community
- TheravadaBuddhism of the elders
- MahayanaBuddhism stressing universal liberation
- SiddharthaBuddha's birth name
monastic order · Vinaya · ordination · lineage · world religion · spiritual movement
Release from cyclical existence
- bodhiBuddhist spiritual awakening
- awakeningReturn to consciousness
- liberationRelease from constraint
- mokshaRelease from rebirth cycle
satori · illumination · realization · unbinding · cessation · transcendence · ultimate reality · insight
Formal surrender of claim
- asceticismSevere self-denial practice
- princeRoyal family male
- MaraHebrew name meaning bitter
- fastingDeliberate food avoidance
Buddhism's core teaching
- DharmaBuddha's collected teachings
- impermanenceQuality of not lasting
- non-selfForeign biological material
- sutrasAphoristic teaching verses
Profound meditative absorption state
- vipassanaClear-seeing contemplative practice
- mindfulnessAwareness of the present
- zazenZen seated meditation
- concentrationSustained single-minded attention
contemplation · breathwork · lotus position · insight meditation · sitting · stillness · awareness · absorptions
Ritual hand gesture
- third eyeMetaphysical perception organ
- haloLuminous ring overhead
- serene expressionCalm, undisturbed facial appearance
- robesLong loose outer garments
alms bowl · footprints · stupa · relics
Benevolent, tender affection
- benevolenceDisposition toward doing good
- empathySharing another's emotions
- mercyCompassion toward offenders
- equanimityUnshakable mental steadiness
Deep perceptive understanding
- discernmentKeen perception and judgment
- understandingMental comprehension of something
- sagacityPenetrating mental acuity
- omniscienceUnlimited knowledge state
Buddhism
Enlightenment-seeking Eastern religion
- SanghaBuddhist monastic community
- TheravadaBuddhism of the elders
- MahayanaBuddhism stressing universal liberation
Siddhartha · monastic order · Vinaya · ordination · lineage · world religion · spiritual movement
nirvana
Release from cyclical existence
- bodhiBuddhist spiritual awakening
- awakeningReturn to consciousness
- liberationRelease from constraint
moksha · satori · illumination · realization · unbinding · cessation · transcendence · ultimate reality · insight · truth
renunciation
Formal surrender of claim
- asceticismSevere self-denial practice
- princeRoyal family male
- MaraHebrew name meaning bitter
Four Noble Truths
Buddhism's core teaching
- DharmaBuddha's collected teachings
- impermanenceQuality of not lasting
- non-selfForeign biological material
samadhi
Profound meditative absorption state
- vipassanaClear-seeing contemplative practice
- mindfulnessAwareness of the present
- zazenZen seated meditation
concentration · contemplation · breathwork · lotus position · insight meditation · sitting · stillness · awareness · absorptions
mudra
Ritual hand gesture
- third eyeMetaphysical perception organ
- haloLuminous ring overhead
- serene expressionCalm, undisturbed facial appearance
robes · alms bowl · footprints · stupa · relics
loving-kindness
Benevolent, tender affection
- benevolenceDisposition toward doing good
- empathySharing another's emotions
- mercyCompassion toward offenders
equanimity · universal love · ahimsa · gentleness · selflessness
insight
Deep perceptive understanding
- discernmentKeen perception and judgment
- understandingMental comprehension of something
- sagacityPenetrating mental acuity
- Buddhismdharma wheel, Four Noble Truths, nirvana, dharma, Mahayana
- Buddhist FiguresDalai Lama, Tara, bodhisattva, Buddhaghosa, bodhisattvas
Gautama BuddhaMara
Hebrew name meaning bitter
Adolf Hitler · Genghis Khan · Pol Pot · Caligula · Vlad the Impaler
Gautama BuddhaCaligula
Depraved third Roman emperor
Nero · hedonist · sybarite · materialist · Marquis de Sade