Buddhism was founded by Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha, in the late 6th century BCE
. He was born in Lumbini, in what is now Nepal, into a royal family of the Shakya clan but renounced his privileged life to live as an ascetic
. After a period of intense meditation, he attained enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree in Bodh Gaya, India, and thereafter taught the path to liberation from suffering, summarized in his core teachings such as the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path
. Buddha's teachings emphasized a Middle Way between indulgence and extreme asceticism and focused on ethical conduct, mental discipline, and wisdom
. He spent about 45 years traveling and teaching across northern India, establishing a monastic community and spreading his doctrine until his death at around age 80
. His life and teachings laid the foundation for Buddhism, which grew to become a major religion across Asia
