Gautama Buddha facts for kids

A statue of the Buddha

Gautama Buddha, whose real name was Siddhartha Gautama, was the founder of Buddhism. He lived in a region of ancient India called Lumbini, which is now in modern-day Nepal, around 563 BC. He is best known by the title the Buddha, which means "Fully Awakened One".

Life
Life teachings
Legacy
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Life

Gandharan sculpture depicting the Buddha in the full lotus seated meditation posture, 2nd–3rd century CE

Buddha Statues from Gal Vihara. The Early Buddhist texts also mention meditation practice while standing and lying down.

Gautama Buddha wasn't born a Buddha. He was a prince. His father, King Suddhodana, ruled a small kingdom called the Shakya Republic. They were very wealthy and powerful.

Siddhartha's early life was one of incredible luxury. He lived in a beautiful palace, surrounded by servants who catered to his every need. He never saw suffering, sickness, or death. His father, wanting to protect him from the harsh realities of the world, shielded him from them. He lived a life of ease and comfort, enjoying music, dancing, and all kinds of pleasures.

But Siddhartha was a curious young prince. One day, as he was being taken for a ride through the palace grounds, his royal charioteer decided to take a different route. Siddhartha, against his father's wishes, requested to venture outside the palace walls. He insisted on seeing the world beyond.

Outside the palace, he saw something he'd never witnessed before: an old man, frail and weak, bent over with age. Then, he saw a sick person, suffering greatly from an illness. Next, he saw a corpse, lifeless and still. And finally, he saw a wandering ascetic, a holy man who had renounced all material possessions to live a simple and spiritual life.

These four sights – old age, sickness, death, and the simple life – shattered Siddhartha's sheltered view of the world. He realized that life is not all pleasure and luxury; it also involves suffering, decay, and death. This deeply troubled him. He couldn't ignore the reality of suffering that lay outside the palace walls. He decided he needed to find answers, to understand the nature of suffering and how to overcome it.

At the age of 29, Siddhartha made a profound decision. He secretly left his palace, his family, and his comfortable life to pursue answers about life and suffering. He cut his hair, dressed in simple robes, and began a spiritual journey. This event is known as the "Great Renunciation."

Siddhartha spent many years seeking enlightenment. He tried different forms of meditation and religious practices, studying with various teachers. He followed the teachings of several gurus and learned a variety of spiritual practices and philosophies. But none of these provided the ultimate answers he was looking for.

After many years of searching, Siddhartha sat down under a Bodhi tree (a type of fig tree), determined to meditate until he found the truth. He meditated for 49 days, completely focused, refusing to move until he found the solution to the suffering he’d witnessed. He faced many challenges. He resisted temptations and overcame strong internal struggles with his own thoughts.

Finally, after much struggle and intense meditation, Siddhartha achieved enlightenment. He understood the cause of suffering and the path to liberation from it. This moment marked his transformation into the Buddha, which means "the awakened one."

After attaining enlightenment, the Buddha spent the rest of his life sharing his teachings with others. He traveled throughout India, gathering followers and establishing a monastic order. He taught people of all backgrounds, regardless of their social status. His teachings spread rapidly, and Buddhism became a major religion.

The Buddha taught for about 45 years, passing away peacefully at the age of 80 in Kushinagar. His death is not seen as an end, but rather a transition to Nirvana – a state of liberation from suffering.

Life teachings

The teachings of the Buddha are known as Buddhism. Buddhism is mostly about ending the feeling of pain that all people feel inside. Gautama Buddha taught that pain is a part of all life. He taught that pain is because of desire. And he showed that there is a way to end desire and end pain by doing good things, not doing bad things, and training one's mind. This is done to end pain and gain enlightenment.

Buddhism teaches non-harm and balance – not going too far one way or the other. The Buddha taught people to meditate, or think deeply, while sitting in the lotus position. Some Buddhists chant and meditate while walking. Buddhists sometimes do these things to understand the human heart and mind. Sometimes they do these things to understand the way the world works. Sometimes they do these things to find peace.

The Buddha would not say if gods exist or not. He taught that people should not look to gods to save them or bring them enlightenment. The gods may have power over world events and they might help people, or they might not. But Buddha believed that it is up to each person to become enlightened.

Four Noble Truths

The Buddha's first and most important teachings are the Four Noble Truths.

Life is suffering.
The reason for this suffering is that we want things to be a certain way.
The way to cure suffering is to rise above this desire.
The way to rise above desire is to follow the Noble Eightfold Path, practices which help us change our minds and understanding.

Noble Eightfold Path

The Buddha told people to follow a special way of life called the Noble Eightfold Path if they want to understand the Four Noble Truths. These are:

Appropriate views. Know and understand the Four Noble Truths.
Appropriate thought. Turn your mind away from the world and toward the Dharma.
Appropriate speech. Tell the truth, don't gossip, and don't talk badly about others.
Appropriate conduct. Don't commit evil acts, like killing, stealing, or living an unclean life.
Appropriate livelihood. Earn your money in a way that doesn't harm anyone.
Appropriate effort. Work to make your mind more good and less evil.
Appropriate mindfulness. Remember the Dharma and apply it all the time.
Appropriate meditation. Practice meditation as a way of understanding reality.

Five precepts

Buddhists are encouraged to follow five precepts, or guidelines:

I will not hurt a person or animal that is alive.
I will not take something if it was not given to me.
I will not engage in sexual misconduct.
I will not lie or say things that hurt people.
I will not take intoxicants causing heedlessness.

If a person wants to be a monk or nun, he or she will follow other precepts as well.

Samsara

According to Buddhism, "suffering" (dukkha) is an inevitable part of the repeated cycle of becoming and rebirth, known as Samsara. Dukkha can be understood as the "unsatisfactoriness" or "unease" that comes when people expect enduring happiness from things which are impermanent. The ultimate noble goal of every man is to attain vimutti (liberation) from this vicious cycle.

Samsara is dictated by karma (an impersonal natural law, similar to how certain seeds produce certain plants and fruits). The Buddha's teaching of karma differed to that of the Jains and Brahmins, in that on his view, karma is primarily mental intention (as opposed to mainly physical action or ritual acts). Richard Gombrich summarizes the Buddha's view of karma as follows: "all thoughts, words, and deeds derive their moral value, positive or negative, from the intention behind them."

Dependent Origination

Schist Buddha statue with the famed Ye Dharma Hetu dhāraṇī around the head, which was used as a common summary of Dependent Origination. It states: "Of those experiences that arise from a cause, The Tathāgata has said: 'this is their cause, And this is their cessation': This is what the Great Śramaṇa teaches."

In the early texts, the process of the arising of dukkha is explicated through the teaching of dependent origination, which says that everything that exists or occurs is dependent on conditioning factors. The most basic formulation of dependent origination is given in the early texts as: 'It being thus, this comes about' (Pali: evam sati idam hoti). This can be taken to mean that certain phenomena only arise when there are other phenomena present, thus their arising is "dependent" on other phenomena.

Anatta

The Buddha saw his analysis of dependent origination as a "Middle Way" between "eternalism" (sassatavada, the idea that some essence exists eternally) and "annihilationism" (ucchedavada, the idea that we go completely out of existence at death). In this view, persons are just a causal series of impermanent psycho-physical elements, which are anatta, without an independent or permanent self. The Buddha instead held that all things in the world of our experience are transient and that there is no unchanging part to a person. According to Richard Gombrich, the Buddha's position is simply that "everything is process".

The path to liberation

The Buddha taught a path (marga) of training to undo the samyojana, kleshas and āsavas and attain vimutti (liberation). This path taught by the Buddha is depicted in the early texts as a "Middle Way" between self-indulgence on one hand and mortification of the body on the other.

Bhāvanā, cultivation of wholesome states, is central to the Buddha's path. Common practices to this goal, which are shared by most of these early presentations of the path, include sila (ethical training), restraint of the senses (indriyasamvara), sati (mindfulness) and sampajañña (clear awareness), and the practice of dhyana, the cumulative development of wholesome states leading to a "state of perfect equanimity and awareness (upekkhā-sati-parisuddhi)."

Homeless life

The early Buddhist texts depict the Buddha as promoting the life of a homeless and celibate "sramana", or mendicant, as the ideal way of life for the practice of the path. He taught that mendicants or "beggars" (bhikkhus) were supposed to give up all possessions and to own just a begging bowl and three robes. As part of the Buddha's monastic discipline, they were also supposed to rely on the wider lay community for the basic necessities (mainly food, clothing, and lodging).

The Buddha's teachings on monastic discipline were preserved in the various Vinaya collections of the different early schools.

Buddhist monastics, which included both monks and nuns, were supposed to beg for their food, were not allowed to store up food or eat after noon and they were not allowed to use gold, silver or any valuables.

Worldly happiness

The Buddha teaches two types of happiness. First, there is the happiness visible in this very life. The Buddha states that four things lead to this happiness: "The accomplishment of persistent effort, the accomplishment of protection, good friendship, and balanced living." Similarly, in several other suttas, the Buddha teaches on how to improve family relationships, particularly on the importance of filial love and gratitude as well as marital well-being.

Legacy

Sarnath (also known as "Deer Park") is said to be the place where the Buddha first taught.

Buddha's teachings continue to inspire millions of people around the world. Buddhism teaches compassion, mindfulness, and the importance of living a life free from suffering. The principles of the Eightfold Path are still relevant today, offering a practical guide to ethical living and inner peace. His legacy continues to resonate with people searching for meaning and purpose in their lives, centuries after his passing.

Buddhism

Images for kids

Seated Buddha from Tapa Shotor monastery in Hadda, Afghanistan, 2nd century CE
Ancient kingdoms and cities of India during the time of the Buddha (c. 500 BCE)
Inscription "The illumination of the Blessed Sakamuni" (Brahmi script: 𑀪𑀕𑀯𑀢𑁄 𑀲𑀓𑀫𑀼𑀦𑀺𑀦𑁄 𑀩𑁄𑀥𑁄, Bhagavato Sakamunino Bodho) on a relief showing the "empty" Illumination Throne of the Buddha in the early Mahabodhi Temple at Bodh Gaya. Bharhut, c. 100 BCE.
One of the earliest anthropomorphic representations of the Buddha, here surrounded by Brahma (left) and Śakra (right). Bimaran Casket, mid-1st century CE, British Museum.
The legendary Jataka collections depict the Buddha-to-be in a previous life prostrating before the past Buddha Dipankara, making a resolve to be a Buddha, and receiving a prediction of future Buddhahood.
The Lumbini pillar contains an inscription stating that this is the Buddha's birthplace
The "Great Departure" of Siddhartha Gautama, surrounded by a halo, he is accompanied by numerous guards and devata who have come to pay homage; Gandhara, Kushan period
Prince Siddhartha shaves his hair and becomes a śramaṇa. Borobudur, 8th century
The gilded "Emaciated Buddha statue" in Wat Suthat in Bangkok representing the stage of his asceticism
The Mahabodhi Tree at the Sri Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya
The Enlightenment Throne of the Buddha at Bodh Gaya, as recreated by Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE.
Miracle of the Buddha walking on the River Nairañjanā. The Buddha is not visible (aniconism), only represented by a path on the water, and his empty throne bottom right. Sanchi.
The chief disciples of the Buddha, Mogallana (chief in psychic power) and Sariputta (chief in wisdom).
The remains of a section of Jetavana Monastery, just outside of ancient Savatthi, in Uttar Pradesh.
Mahāprajāpatī, the first bhikkuni and Buddha's stepmother, ordains
Ajatashatru worships the Buddha, relief from the Bharhut Stupa at the Indian Museum, Kolkata
This East Javanese relief depicts the Buddha in his final days, and Ānanda, his chief attendant.
Mahaparinirvana, Gandhara, 3rd or 4th century CE, gray schist
Mahaparinibbana scene, from the Ajanta caves
Buddha's cremation stupa, Kushinagar (Kushinara).
Piprahwa vase with relics of the Buddha. The inscription reads: ...salilanidhane Budhasa Bhagavate... (Brahmi script: ...𑀲𑀮𑀺𑀮𑀦𑀺𑀥𑀸𑀦𑁂 𑀩𑀼𑀥𑀲 𑀪𑀕𑀯𑀢𑁂...) "Relics of the Buddha Lord".
The Bodhisattva meets with Alara Kalama, Borobudur relief.
Gandharan Buddhist birchbark scroll fragments
Buddha meets a Brahmin, at the Indian Museum, Kolkata
The Buddha on a coin of Kushan ruler Kanishka I, c. 130 CE.
Buddhist monks from Nepal. According to the earliest sources, the Buddha looked like a typical shaved man from northeast India.
Buddha depicted as the 9th avatar of god Vishnu in a traditional Hindu representation
Christ and Buddha by Paul Ranson, 1880
A Royal Couple Visits the Buddha, from railing of the Bharhut Stupa, Shunga dynasty, early 2nd century BC.
Adoration of the Diamond Throne and the Bodhi Tree, Bharhut.
Descent of the Buddha from the Trayastrimsa Heaven, Sanchi Stupa No. 1.
The Buddha's Miracle at Kapilavastu, Sanchi Stupa 1.
Bimbisara visiting the Buddha (represented as empty throne) at the Bamboo garden in Rajagriha
The great departure with riderless horse, Amaravati, 2nd century CE.
The Assault of Mara, Amaravati, 2nd century CE.
Isapur Buddha, one of the earliest physical depictions of the Buddha, c. 15 CE. Art of Mathura
The Buddha attended by Indra at Indrasala Cave, Mathura 50-100 CE.
Buddha Preaching in Tushita Heaven. Amaravati, Satavahana period, 2d century CE. Indian Museum, Calcutta.
Standing Buddha from Gandhara.
Kushan period Buddha Triad.
Buddha statue from Sanchi.
Birth of the Buddha, Kushan dynasty, late 2nd to early 3rd century CE.
The Infant Buddha Taking A Bath, Gandhara 2nd century CE.
6th century Gandharan Buddha.
Buddha at Cave No. 6, Ajanta Caves.
Standing Buddha, c. 5th Century CE.
Sarnath standing Buddha, 5th century CE.
Seated Buddha, Gupta period.
Seated Buddha at Gal Vihara, Sri Lanka.
Chinese Stele with Sakyamuni and Bodhisattvas, Wei period, 536 CE.
The Shakyamuni Daibutsu Bronze, c. 609, Nara, Japan.
Amaravati style Buddha of Srivijaya period, Palembang, Indonesia, 7th century.
Korean Seokguram Cave Buddha, c. 774 CE.
Seated Buddha Vairocana flanked by Avalokiteshvara and Vajrapani of Mendut temple, Central Java, Indonesia, early 9th century.
Buddha in the exposed stupa of Borobudur mandala, Central Java, Indonesia, c. 825.
Vairocana Buddha of Srivijaya style, Southern Thailand, 9th century.
Seated Buddha, Japan, Heian period, 9th－10th century.
Cambodian Buddha with Mucalinda Nāga, c. 1100 CE, Banteay Chhmar, Cambodia
15th century Sukhothai Buddha.
15th century Sukhothai Walking Buddha.
Sakyamuni, Lao Tzu, and Confucius, c. from 1368 until 1644.
Chinese depiction of Shakyamuni, 1600.
Shakyamuni Buddha with Avadana Legend Scenes, Tibetan, 19th century
Golden Thai Buddha statue, Bodh Gaya.
Gautama statue, Shanyuan Temple, Liaoning Province, China.
Burmese style Buddha, Shwedagon pagoda, Yangon.
Large Gautama Buddha statue in Buddha Park of Ravangla.