In Buddhism, the ultimate goal is to break the cycle of rebirth and achieve enlightenment or nirvana. Nirvana is a transcendental state in which there is no suffering, desire, or sense of self.
According to Theravada scripture the Buddha (Siddartha Gautama) was born in the 5th century BCE. He was the son of King Śuddhodana, the ruler of a small kingdom in what is modern day Nepal.
A widespread Asian religion or philosophy, founded by Siddartha Gautama in NE India in the 5th century BCE, which teaches that enlightenment may be reached by elimination of earthly desires and of the idea of the self.
