Shakyamuni Buddha, also known as the Buddha, was one of the founders of Buddhism. He was born in either 563 BCE or 624 BCE (depending on different historical records) in the city of Kruni in the Kingdom of Kapilavastu, India (now within modern-day Nepal). His parents were both members of the royal family. After leaving home to pursue spiritual practice, he attained enlightenment in Bodh Gaya, India, sometime between approximately 528 BCE and 483 BCE, becoming the “Buddha,” meaning “The Awakened One” or “The Enlightened One.”
According to legend, Shakyamuni was born into a wealthy and noble family. Under the bright sun of royal luxury, he had never witnessed sickness, death, or suffering in the world. Yet his curiosity made him long to understand the truth of human existence. Therefore, at the age of 25, he abandoned all material pleasures, left the palace, and began six years of ascetic practice. He traveled extensively, followed different spiritual teachers, and studied various paths of cultivation. Eventually, he discovered the “Middle Way” — a path that neither indulges in sensual pleasures and material enjoyment nor clings to extreme asceticism, but instead seeks liberation through deep meditation and inner awareness.
After attaining liberation, Shakyamuni established Buddhism in the Kingdom of Kapilavastu and began teaching his disciples. He did not claim to found a sect for personal gain, but encouraged people to act according to truth and wisdom, dispel delusion, and pursue a life rooted in compassion and truth-seeking.
The teachings he passed down included the “Four Noble Truths” — suffering, the cause of suffering, the cessation of suffering, and the path to liberation; the “Noble Eightfold Path” — right view, right thought, right speech, right action, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration, and right liberation; as well as the “Ten Wholesome Deeds” — refraining from killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, false speech, harsh speech, jealousy, greed, anger, ignorance, and doubt. These teachings greatly influenced Asian thought and were widely applied in religion, philosophy, politics, and the arts.
Shakyamuni’s teachings were intended to guide people away from suffering and confusion, and toward inner peace and liberation through proper conduct, spiritual practice, and mental development. Before his passing, he once said:
“Life is like a candle. It must burn itself out to light the way for others.”
This sentence became a classic saying in Buddhism and reflected Shakyamuni’s life philosophy and values.
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