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Who was Siddhartha Gautama?
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Buddhism
Seated Buddha, bronze statue, 15th century, Thailand.
Siddhartha Gautama, known as the Buddha, was the founder of Buddhism. Born the son of a king, he lived a sheltered life until encountering the "Four Signs"—an old man, a sick person, a corpse, and a monk—which prompted him to renounce his princely life in search of enlightenment. After years of asceticism, he realized that a middle way, balancing spiritual discipline with compassion, was the path to understanding. His teachings, which form the basis of Buddhism, emphasize the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path to overcome suffering and achieve nirvana.12345