When was Buddhism founded

This article is an answer to the question, when was Buddhism founded?

Buddhism originally arose out of the teaching and enlightenment of Siddharth Gautama. Siddharth Gautama was the first of many Buddhas or enlightened masters - who have enriched the Buddhist tradition.

Buddhism is a living seed and contains many powerful methods to attain enlightenment. Its teaching have helped many persons to become enlightened.

The Buddha lived approximately between the years 563-483 BCE. He attained understanding in around 531 BCE and spent the rest of his life preaching and propagating his teaching.

The Buddha lived a life of luxury in a royal household till he was 29. On coming in touch with the fact that suffering is inevitable he decided to leave this life and take to monastic ways.

The Buddha practiced severed austerities for about 6 years and learned meditation from many masters of his time. The austerities were so severe that he was reduced to mere skin and bones.

It was only when he gave up this extreme also and practiced the Middle Way that he achieved his breakthrough. He found himself in Gaya (in the present state of Bihar in North India) and after a long time had a meal of milk and rice. Then refreshed, he did an all night meditation sitting. And he was enlightened towards the dawn when the morning star arose.

So, this is when was Buddhism founded. The Buddha must have been around 35 at that time.

After that the Buddha went to some five ascetics with whom he had practiced austerities earlier. These ascetics had abandoned him in Gaya when they had seen him eating and drinking. They were determined not to welcome the Buddha now.

But when the Buddha approached his sense of presence and majesty was such that they welcomed him and offered him water to drink. The Buddha then preached to them the first sermon that about suffering, the cause of suffering and the cessation of suffering.

The Buddha taught his teaching for the next 45 years till his death. He won over the people and gathered many followers, who became monks, to follow his way. He ultimately died at the age of 80 at about 483 BCE.

This teaching became the Theravada tradition of Buddhism. It is also called the Path of the Elders or the Southern school and is regarded as the Buddha's original teaching.

There is also the Mahayana tradition, Tibetan Buddhism and Zen all of which developed later.

So, this is an answer to the question when was Buddhism founded.

Buddhism then spread to many countries in East and North Asia. Burma, China, Tibet, Japan, and Vietnam are some of the countries to which it spread.

Buddhism at all times has been a living seed and has grown and changed and adapted itself to suit the different countries in which it found itself.

There have been many enlightened masters who have enriched and grown the Buddhist teaching. Nagarjuna, Padmasambhava and Bodhidharma are only three names in a distinguished list.

So, this is the answer to the question when was Buddhism founded.

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