Spiritual Leader · 563 BC – 483 BC
Siddhartha Gautama
Little-Known Facts
- By tradition, his father shielded him from all suffering, until journeys outside the palace revealed old age, sickness and death.
- The Buddha rejected both luxury and extreme asceticism in favor of a 'Middle Way'.
Myths & Misconceptions
Is the Buddha a god?
No. The Buddha is regarded as an enlightened human teacher, not a god; he explicitly discouraged worship of himself as a deity.