The founder of Buddhism is Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha. Born into a royal family in the 6th century BCE in present-day Nepal, he renounced his privileged life in search of enlightenment after witnessing the suffering of existence. After years of meditation and ascetic practices, he attained enlightenment and shared his insights, which formed the basis of Buddhist teachings. The Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path are key principles of Buddhism, emphasizing the importance of overcoming suffering and achieving spiritual awakening.