“Buddha” means “awakened” or “enlightened one” and is both a title and the name given to the historical founder of Buddhism, Siddhartha Gautama. It refers to someone who has attained enlightenment and is a title for anyone who achieves this state. In this sense, it’s a title rather than just a person’s name, given to an awakened human being who understood the reality of existence and taught others how to escape suffering.
“Awakened one”:
The word “Buddha” comes from the Sanskrit word buddha, meaning “awakened” or “enlightened”.
Historical founder:
The title is most famously associated with Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism, who lived in India around the 5th century BCE.
A title for anyone:
It is not just a name for the historical figure but is a title for anyone who has achieved the same level of enlightenment and liberation from suffering.
A path to end suffering:
According to Buddhist tradition, the Buddha’s teachings, known as the Dhamma, provide a path for followers to end suffering and achieve liberation through the Noble Eightfold Path.
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