Buddhism, originating in the 6th century BCE in the northeastern part of India, is a philosophy and religion based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, known as the Buddha. With approximately 535 million followers worldwide, Buddhism is considered the world's fourth-largest religion. The central figure, the Buddha, whose name means "awakened one," was born a prince in Lumbini, Nepal, and later renounced his luxurious life to seek enlightenment and an end to suffering.
Buddhism is unique among major religions because it is non-theistic, meaning it does not worship a creator god. Instead, it emphasizes personal responsibility, ethical conduct, meditation, mindfulness, and the pursuit of wisdom to achieve liberation from suffering. Key concepts include the Four Noble Truths, which explain the nature of suffering, its causes, its cessation, and the path to its cessation, and the Noble Eightfold Path, which outlines the practical steps for achieving enlightenment. The ultimate goal in Buddhism is to attain Nirvana, a state of liberation from suffering and the cycle of rebirth. There are multiple schools of Buddhism, with the most well-known being Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana.
