The history of Buddhism is the story of one man’s spiritual journey to Enlightenment, and of the teachings and ways of living that developed from it.Siddhartha Gautama – The BuddhaBy finding the path to Enlightenment, Siddhartha was led from the pain of suffering and rebirth towards the path of Enlightenment and became known as the Buddha or ‘awakened one’.
Controversial dates
Buddhism is largely based on the teachings and philosophy of one man, the Buddha, and his spiritual journey. But tracing a timeline of events for the historical Buddha can be difficult, as the dates are controversial.Scholars are divided between two dates for his birth – c563 or c448BC – with recent finds suggesting the first is more likely. Some events are firmly agreed: he left home at 29, he attained ‘awakening’ at 35, and he died 45 years later.
Conception
Apic/Getty ImagesBuddhist tradition says that Buddha's mother dreamt of an auspicious white elephant.The Buddha’s mother was the wife of a leading figure in a small state known by its tribal name, Śākya.It was a kind of oligarchic republic that was situated on the border of modern day India and Nepal. According to Buddhist tradition, she dreamt that an auspicious white elephant entered her womb ,
Birth: Lumbinī, Nepal
The Granger Collection/TopFotoA Tibetan painting of the birth of the Buddha as he emerges from the side of his mother Queen Maya.The Buddha emerged from his mother’s side, as she stood leaning against a tree, in a painless and pure birth.He took seven steps and lotus flowers sprang up in his footsteps. A wise man predicted that this child would be either a great secular ruler or a great religious leader. He was named Siddhārtha (or Sarvārthasiddha), meaning ‘a man who achieves his goals’. His mother died shortly after his birth and he was brought up by his maternal aunt Mahāprajāpati.
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