Born Siddhartha Gautama as a Prince in Ancient India around 567 BCE - The Buddha was a philosopher, mendicant, meditator, spiritual teacher, and religious leader.

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He was never allowed out of the palace by his father, for fear that he would see the harsh reality of life. One day, he escaped with his loyal assistant, and saw a sick man, old man, dead man and a monk. 

 

At age 29, he decided to leave his life of luxury in his Palace, leaving behind his wife and son who would later on become his monastic disciples.

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For years, he searched for the truth - he tried extreme starvation and extreme indulgence but neither worked. He then realized that the path was "The Middle Path". Not too little, not too much, but just right. 

 

He gained enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree at the age of 35, after meditating for weeks and battling against Mara, the Evil One.

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He taught for around 45 years and built a large following, both monastic and lay, before entering into Nibanna (the final liberation).

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Today, he is revered as the founder of the world religion of Buddhism.