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Ep. 79
At its core, Buddhism is not a religion in the classical sense, though often perceived as such. It is more accurately described as a path, a way of living that seeks to understand the nature of reality and to cultivate wisdom, compassion, and liberation from suffering. This path is rooted in the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, a prince from ancient India who, after experiencing deep suffering and loss, embarked on a profound spiritual quest that ultimately led him to enlightenment.
The foundational principles of Buddhism offer a robust framework for understanding its teachings. Foremost are the Four Noble Truths, providing a profound understanding of suffering and its origins. They are the truths of suffering, the truth of the cause of suffering (which arises from craving and ignorance), the truth of the cessation of suffering, and finally, the truth of the path to the end of suffering, which is the Eightfold Path.