Buddha Shakyamuni

"Buddhism is not only a way of life, we understand it more as a science, a very helpful knowledge which allows to determine, search, learn and bring out the truth and the nature of everything, of whatever we want to know."

- H.H. 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje

Siddhartha Gautama, "The Perfect Wealth", was born into a noble family in Lumbini, presently Nepal, approximately 2550 years ago. His father, the King Suddhodana ruled the Kingdom of Kapilavastu in expectation that one day his son would inherit his crown.

At the age of 29, the Prince Siddharta understood that neither wealth nor power can prevent a man from going through the inevitable process of old age, sickness, loss and finally death.
He then decided to abandon his life of privileges and luxury and seek for the key of absolute happiness.
The renunciation from his pleasant, wordily life shows in reality his renunciation from suffering.

During the following six years he studied, reflected and meditated with endeavour upon all teachings and philosophical doctrines available in India at that time.

Finally, in what is today called Bodhgaya, India, through the power of his determination he experienced the state of Enlightenment, the Awakening. The liberating experience of the true nature of all phenomena became the supreme freedom from suffering.

Since then, Siddhartha Gautama has been called Buddha, the Awakened One.

Realizing that each being has the potential to become a Buddha, he then became a guide to others. The skillfull methods and techniques - Dharma - he shared, point out how the things really are.
Nowadays, those teachings and their practice are referred to as Buddhism.