Who is considered the founder of Buddhism?

Siddhartha Gautama, known as the Buddha, is recognized as the founder of Buddhism. Born in what is now Nepal around the 5th to 4th century BCE, he initially lived a life of luxury as a prince. However, upon encountering suffering and the realities of life, he renounced his privileged existence to seek enlightenment. After years of meditation and ascetic practices, he attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree. This pivotal moment led him to teach the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, which form the foundational principles of Buddhism.

His teachings emphasize the importance of understanding the nature of suffering and the path to liberation from it. This transformative journey and the subsequent dissemination of his insights to others laid the groundwork for what we now recognize as Buddhism, making Siddhartha Gautama a central figure in its development and practice.

Other figures listed, such as Confucius, Mahavira, and Jesus Christ, are significant in their own right within their respective traditions (Confucianism, Jainism, and Christianity) but do not relate to the origins of Buddhism.