Buddha

In 534BC, Gautama, the 29 year old heir to the kingdom of Lumbini (Nepal), whilst going for a walk, encountered a begging monk, an old man, a sick man and a corpse. This prompted the question “What is the cause of suffering?” and caused him to lose all joy in living so he renounced the world, left his wife and son and became a wandering ascetic.
After five years of wandering, having realised that he was now overindulging his asceticism, Gautama received his enlightenment as he sat in a lotus position under a Bo tree. He acquired The Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Way, which according to his teaching if properly followed will result in attaining Nirvana, a complete serenity of spirit.
Having received this enlightenment, the ascetic former prince gave birth to the Buddhist religion when he preached a sermon, ”Turning the wheel of the law” to five fellow ascetics in a park. By turning the wheel he meant preach Buddhism without ceasing. The five ascetics became his followers and Gautama became known as the Buddha, meaning the wise or the enlightened one.
The most important doctrine he taught was “karma” or good or evil deeds meeting an appropriate reward or punishment, either in this life or in a long succession of lives.
Buddha died peacefully in 483BC on a couch spread between two trees. As he died his disciples asked him how they could best remember him. He told
them not to bother.