Siddhartha Gotama was born into a royal family in Lumbini, now located in Nepal, in 563 BC. When he was 29 he realized that wealth and luxury did not guarantee happiness. So he explored the different teachings, religions, and philosophies of the day to find the key to human happiness. After six years of study and meditation he finally found 'the middle path' and was enlightened. After enlightenment, the Buddha spent the rest of his life teaching the principles of Buddhism - called the Dhamma, or Truth - until his death at the age of 80.
             The Buddha taught many things, but the basic concepts in Buddhism can be summed up by the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path.
             Right, Integral, Complete, Perfected.
             2. Right Attitude, Thought or Emotion;
             6. Right Effort, Energy, and Vitality;
             8. Right Samadhi "concentration", one-pointedness. Integration of, or establishment in, various levels of consciousness.
             http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/basic-guide.htm
             http://www.aolsvc.worldbook.aol.com/
             http://www.ship.edu/~cgboeree/buddhaintro.html
             Funk & Wagnalls New Encyclopedia VOL 4 pg 432-441
             Buddhists should cultivate good conduct by training in what are known as the "Five Precepts". The five precepts are training rules, which, if one were to break any of them, one should be aware of the breech and examine how such a breech may be avoided in the future. The five precepts are:
             1) To undertake the training to avoid taking the life of beings. This precept applies to all living beings not just humans. All beings have a right to their lives and that right should be respected.
             2) To undertake the training to avoid takin
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