h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Actually the Buddha realised that there is no self to be attached to...and that by nature reality is empty of self. Clinging to the idea of self in anything including you is the cause of suffering. Ignorance of this truth, longing for things and the hatred arising from the frustrating experience of this is a vicious cycle which gives rise to the perception of cyclic existence termed samsara. The way taught is the middle way between the extremes of nihilism and eternalism. In the mahayana way, realising the truth of this gives rise to compassion for all sentient beings who suffer in this way and to the wisdom of realising emptiness (of self)...and the intent to become a buddha oneself for the benefit of all...this is called bodhicitta (wisdom-mind).

BUDDHISM IS THE RELIGION FOLLOWED MOSTLY BY THE PEOPLE FROM MONGOLIAN RACES.A BUDDHIST FOLLOWER MUST BE READY FOR FOLLOWING THE PATHS FOLLOWED BY BUDDHA WHICH LEADS TO SALVATION.
GAUTAM BUDDHA WAS A PRINCE OF SHAKYA DYNASTY BORN IN KAPILBASTU,NEPAL.HIS REAL NAME WAS SIDDHARTHA GAUTAM.IT IS BELIEVED THT HE WALKED SEVEN STEPS IMMEDIATELY AFTER HIS BIRTH WHICH PROVED THAT HE WAS A GREAT HUMAN.IN THE TIME OF NAMING CEREMONY,THE PRIEST HAD TOLD THAT HE WOULD BE A GREAT MAN SOMEDAY.HE WAS A MYSTERIOUS MINDED PERSON, IN FACT HE WANTED GO INTO THE KNOWLEDGE AS MUCH HE COULD.AT THE AGE OF ABOUT 24,HE WAS MARRIED TO A BEAUTIFUL PRINCESS NAMED YASHODHARA AND THE COUPLE HAD A SON NAMED RAHUL.
ONE DAY LIKE OTHER DAYS,SIDDHARTHA WAS MOVING ON A CHARIOT WITH THE SOLDIERS WHEN HE SAW AN OLD PERSON WHICH WAS OBSERVED BY HIM VERY CAREFULLY.THE NEXT DAY HE FOUND THE MAN SICK.AFTER SOME DAYS HE FOUND THE SAME MAN DEAD.THIS EVENT MADE HIM TO THINK ABOUT THE OLDNESS,SICKNESS AND DEATH.BEING ENTHUSIASTIC FOR SEARCHING THE ANSWER OF HIS OWN QUESTION, HE LEFT HIS PALACE AND WENT TO PLACE NAMED GAYA(IT LIES NOW IN INDIA).THERE REMAINING UNDER A TREE OF ASHOKA HE BEGAN TO MEDITATE FOR A LONG TIME.IT IS BELIEVED THAT HE MEDITATED FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS.AFTER THEN , HE GAINED THE KNOWLEDGE OF EVERYTHING ABOUT LIFE.AFTER THIS HE BEGAN TO PREACH HIS RELIGION WHICH WAS AGAINST THE WAR AND CONVIENCED THE PEOPLE TO LIVE A PEACEFUL LIFE.HE ALSO SHOWED THE EIGHT FOLD PATHS WHICH COULD LEAD TO A PEACEFUL LIFE. IN THIS WAY, THE BUDDHISM WAS PREACHED OVER THE WORLD AND IT IS EVEN BEEN KNOWN AS THE "RELIGION FOR PEACE"