Buddha

Dhamma, also called Dharma, generally means the teachings of the Buddha. The Buddha was Siddhartha Gautama, who became enlightened: Buddhists believe he awakened to the truth about existence and the way to overcome suffering. His teachings share that understanding with others.

Buddhism began approximately 2,500 years ago with Siddhartha Gautama, who became known as the Buddha, meaning ‘awakened one’. This title describes his awakening to the truth about existence, particularly why people suffer and how suffering can be overcome.