The Buddha and His Teaching Siddhartha Gautama meditated and fasted for 49 days to understand the causes of human suffering. He came to believe that letting go of selfish desires could free one from misery. Gautama’s followers called him the Buddha, or the “Enlightened One.” The Buddha determined an Eightfold Path that would lead to nirvana, or a release from the cycle of reincarnation. This path was open to anyone to follow. 1 of 3 Ancient India Section 3: The Beginnings if Buddhism

Buddhism Inside and Outside India Buddhism did not take hold in a lasting way in India, although Hinduism shares many of the same ideas. In other Asian countries, such as China, Korea, and Japan, Buddhism flourished, monasteries opened, and Buddhist beliefs had a great impact on the cultures. 2 of 3 Ancient India Section 3: The Beginnings if Buddhism Section Reading Support Transparency MapMaster: The Spread of Buddhism

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