Over 2,500 years ago, a prince named Siddhartha Gautama began to question his sheltered, yet luxurious life. When he left, he saw four things: a sick man, an old man, a dead man, and a monk. These sights showed him that not even a prince can escape illness, suffering and death. The sight of the monk gave Siddhartha the idea to leave his life as a prince, and he soon became a holy man. He began to seek the answers to the questions of life, such as: "Why must people suffer?" and "What is the cause of suffering?" Siddhartha spent many years doing many religious practices, such as praying, meditating, and fasting, until he finally understood the basic truths of life. This realization occurred after sitting under a Poplar-fig tree, in India, for many days in deep meditation. After this, he earned enlightenment, or nirvana, and was given the title of Buddha, which means "The Enlightened One".
Buddha discovered the Three Universal Truths and Four Noble Truths, and taught them to others for the next 45 years of his life. He also taught people to take responsibility for their lives and actions, and that the Eightfold Path is the way to achieve nirvana.
Buddha discovered the Three Universal Truths and Four Noble Truths, and taught them to others for the next 45 years of his life. He also taught people to take responsibility for their lives and actions, and that the Eightfold Path is the way to achieve nirvana.