~Siddhartha Gautama is the founder of Buddhism.
~He was a reformer who's beliefs spread across the world and became a very influential religion.
~He was born a prince around 563 BC.
~His mother had a dream that was said to make his son a holy man. His father did not want this so he kept him the palace surrounded by all the things he would ever want.
~Siddhartha was married at age sixteen.
~When he turned twenty-nine, he saw suffering for the first time. angered about this, he left the palace and never returned. While he was gone,

Siddhartha Gautama

he searched for a place that had no suffering. When he could not find one, he turned toHindu prophets for assistance and was once again angered. He decided to meditate until he found out life's mystery. When he found the answer, he became the Buddha or "The Enlightened One".
~He traveled across northern India to preach and attracted many followers.
~People were so inspired by him that they set up convents and monasteries that later became centers for learning.At age eighty, Buddha died. however, people still follow his teachings today.