Buddhism is one of the major religions of the world. It was founded by Siddhartha Gautam who is also known as Gautam Buddha, He was born in 563 B.C. at Lumbini, in Kapilbastu district of Nepal. Gauam Buddha struggled throughout his life to find solution to sufferings in life. At last, meditating under 'bodhi' tree in Gaya (in India), he realized that the root of all sufferings caused by change in desire and ignorance. Knowing this truth of life he was enlightened and began to be called the "Buddha". Since then, he started teaching the people the four noble truths and the noble eightfold paths. The teaching of Gautam Buddha formed a new religion called Buddhism. Buddhism, thus originated in Nepal. spread all over India, Sri Lanka, Thiland, Myanmar, Cambodia and Vietnam. Through the Himalayan mountain passes it spread over to Tibet, China, Korea and Japan. During the 20th century, it spread to Europe, the United States of America and Australia.Buddhism has adapted as well to other cultures and developed distinctive forms in different countries. With Hinduism in particular, it is blended together to form one religion. Followers of Hinduism and Buddhism began to live together in harmony and thus Buddhism became a sister of Hinduism.
