Buddhism's origins trace back to the 5th century (BC) in Northern India. He lived and died slightly before the Hellenistic Empires sprouted, which caused his ideas to travel back and potentially even influence Christianity to some extent as the Greeks saw a new level of interconnections with the world. However, because of the time period, most of the facts around the life of Gautama Siddhartha are a mixture of legend, myth and truth, though there is enough historical evidence to suggest he did exist and is not fabricated. Siddhartha's mother, Maya, is said to have died either from complications of childbirth or during the process, leaving him as the only heir. His father approached many Brahamin asking about the prophecy of the dynasty, and they said that Siddhartha would either become a great ruler or a great spiritual leader.
His father, wanting his bloodline to continue, kept him within the grand palace and would give him everything he wanted. Women, gold, food, etc. However, there were only two conditions: the prince may never leave the palace and he must never learn of the religious texts. This would not last, however, as the Prince grew older, he grew tired of the luxury and the temptation that surrounded him and slowly began to sneak out in his late 20s. (He was married with child at this point, it should be noted.) First, he saw a poor homeless man, and his charioteer told him that all men grew old. The second time he went out, he saw a sick man, and his charioteer told him all men must endure disease and pain. And on his final trip, he saw a dead man, and his charioteer told him that all men must die. As he returned, he saw an ascetic monk, mediating, which inspired him.
Disgusted by his father's sheltering, he returned home, as everything he ever knew had come spiraling down. That night, all the female servant are said to have all laid in his room, scattered like corpses, which caused him to finally leave the palace, looking at his wife and son and only vowing to return once he had reached enlightenment, and rode off into the night with his charioteer and favored horse until he reached a river, in which he cut off the hair knot which symbolized his royal blood and dawned the robes of a priest, sending the charioteer and horse back to inform his father and wife that he did not leave out of malice, or a lack of love, but that he wanted to end the cycle of death and rebirth, and that the house life was impure and narrow- the samana life was free and open air.
Accounts very after this point. Some say he went from brahamin to brahamin looking for answers but never being satisfied, others say he was a beggar who would regularly starve himself and fast to reach a state of understanding of mortality. It's said that it was only after he was mediating so hard that he fell into the river and was rescued by a peasant girl who feed him rice pudding to break his fast that it's said he realized the middle path-or the road between self indulgence and self mortification in which it was most healthy to live within, holding nothing to excess and holding nothing to self-repulsion. It is then he is said to have reached enlightenment mediating under the Bodhi tree in which he discovered the Four Nobles Truths.
It should be noted that the Four Noble Truths are structured like a doctor's diagnosis of the time, as the now Enlightened "Buddha" was essentially prescribing an end to perpetual existance, or as it was understood in Hinduism at the time.
They go as follows:
1) Life/Existence is Dukha (Suffering/Pain/Unpleasantness/Etc)
2) All Dukha stems from Desire/Wanting/Attachments
3) There is a way to end Desire/Wanting/Attachments
4) It is through the Eightfold Path
The Eightfold Path:
1) Right View- All actions have consequences, intended or not. Death is not the end. Our actions and beliefs will outlive us in their effects
2) Right Resolve-The attempt at giving up of desire to follow the path to enlightenment, not reach a state where earthly possessions, needs, and attachments no longer way upon us. The ideas typically coupled with this are the principles of "impermanence" or the idea that nothing lasts forever and that everything is temporary, "Suffering" or the idea that Dukha is inherent to existence, and Non-self, or the idea that one has moved beyond any concepts of identity and that they have accepted who they are for who they are and what they are beyond any extrinsic notions like race, politics, gender, or sexual orientation
3) Right Speech- No slander, lying, or misconduct with the attempt to harm or to cause ill-will.
4) Right Conduct- Refrain from killing, stealing, or sexual misconduct unless absolutely necessary or as an option of last resort. (Excluding Sexual Misconduct for the last clause)
5) Right Livelihood- Gaining one's livelihood by benefiting others and not selling tools of destruction such as weapons, poisons, or drugs with the knowledge or intent to cause harm
6) Right Effort-
Preventing Unwholesome or unhealthy states of mind and promoting the
Seven Virtues and healthy states of mind and being
7) Right Mindfulness- Retention, be mindful of not only the dhammas (teachings) but of others and of their intentions. Do not be absent minded, and be aware of the effects of your actions
8)Right Concentration- Meditation, understanding of oneself and others, and practice of mindfulness/and putting your principles into practice
They are intentionally meant to be broad and more setup as guidelines due to the complexity of life and circumstances. There are many different arguments and schools of thought for each branch or interpretation of the path. They're like the 10 commandments on a superficial level, but Buddha doesn't make moral judgement, but rather states that these are the means to minimize suffering, and understands that situations will arise in life that may make one stray temporarily. The attempt is not for some sense of purity or favor, but to follow as general principles and guidelines.
The ultimate goal in which is Nirvana. (Literally "snuffed-out," "explosion," etc.) It is a state of non-existence in which there is no longer suffering or pain, no sense of self or punishment. There is no "you" to perceive anything. Unlike Hinduism, which believes that once a person has ascended to through the castes and becomes one with the universal energy in Moshaka, Buddhism believes that Nirvana can be achieved in one life time, regardless of sex, gender, ideology, class, race, or even religion. It's about following the path, and once you have reached a sufficient state, you will be liberated from attachments and pain, and reach a state of contentment with your place in the world and how infinitely small you are in the grand scheme of things.
I'm personally a Secular Buddhist so I don't believe in reincarnation, but it should be noted that Buddha envisioned life as a never ending wheel in which you would fall into the same patterns and cycle of life, death, rebirth, and you would trap yourself in the same pitfalls, habits, and relapses unless you were able to overcome them and work past them. I argue with that to some extent, minus the spiritual aspects, but I there are limits to how closely I align with Buddhism. I tend to respect it from a more secular point of view and follow the principles and ideas more than a strict moral code.
