Who is considered the founder of Buddhism?

The founder of Buddhism is Siddhartha Gautama, who is also known as the Buddha, meaning "the Enlightened One." He was born into a royal family in what is now Nepal around the 5th to 4th century BCE. Siddhartha Gautama's life journey to enlightenment began when he sought to understand the nature of suffering and the path to its cessation. After years of searching through various ascetic practices, he attained enlightenment while meditating under the Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya, India.

Upon his enlightenment, he began to teach others about the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, which form the foundation of Buddhist philosophy. These teachings focus on the nature of suffering, the causes of suffering, how to overcome suffering, and the path to liberation. Therefore, Siddhartha Gautama's role as the originator of these teachings and the founder of the Buddhist community establishes him as the founder of Buddhism, while the titles "Buddha" and "Gautama Buddha" are tied to the same historical figure but reflect different aspects of his identity and teachings.