Siddhartha Gautama: Journey towards Enlightenment

Siddhartha Gautama was born with auspicious marks on his body, which was a sign that he would conquer the world. As result of these markings, his father believed Siddhartha would be drawn to the spiritual world if given the opportunity to witness suffering within the world, so his father made sure Siddhartha did not have any contact with the outside world. His father provided him with a luxury life and indulged comforts. He was married to a princess and then had a son named, Rahula. Despite his fathers attempts, Siddhartha grew restless and traveled outside the palace with his charioteer. He saw four things that could influence his life, which are called the "Four Sights". He realized he wanted to find the truth about suffering and so he left behind the palace, his family, and the luxury life he had to find the truth. He removed his jeweled clothing and cut his hair, removing any traces of his old life.
The "Gesture of Calling the Earth to Witness" is a tradition that states a demon tried to harass Buddha with temptations to stop him from accomplishing his quest for enlightenment. However,

Buddha was stronger than the temptations and placed his right hand on the ground asking the earth to witness his completion of his quest. The tradition says that he experienced nirvana immediately after he called upon the earth. It also states that Buddha meditated for 49 days to obtain enlightenment. During his meditation, Buddha witnessed how karma influences the samsara, was tempted by the demon, and obtained nirvana.Completing this quest, his enlightenment stopped desire which caused suffering. It is believed that this also freedom Buddha from the samsara. According to the Buddhist tradition, he was not the first individual to reach enlightenment but he was the first one to receive dharma. Buddha stayed in this area for a few days before he decided to travel and teach others what he learned and experience during his enlightenment.
The Four Noble Truths form the basis of dharma.

The Four Noble Truth states that suffering is inherent in life. The cause of suffering is caused by desire and there is a a way to put end to desire and suffering. The way is the Noble Eightfold Path. The Noble Eightfold Path is the way one will reach enlightenment by following the eight virtues, which consist of the right: view, intention, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, and concentration. This believe is based of the Middle Way. By completing the eight virtues, it allows an individual to achieve mental clarity. The Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path is significant for Buddhist practice because this is the path that one follows when looking to achieve enlightenment/nirvana. If one follows this path, they are able to put end to desire, not be tempted, and achieve enlightenment just like Buddha

did.
Buddha taught that rebirth happens but not the same the atman that passes through the new lives as learned in Hinduism. According to his doctrine of No-Self, one's sense of self arises from the 5 skandhas and only exists as long as they work together to give the sense of self. In Buddhism. there is nothing that passes from one carnation to another, instead the karma from the current live will generate the conditions for the next reincarnation. A common analogy used by the Buddhist, is a candle flame. Rebirth is the same process one uses one candle to light another candle. Buddhist also believe in the samsara, just like Hinduism, the continuous cycle of birth, death, and rebirth, with hopes of achieving nirvana. Individuals who want to fulfill their desires and attachments will be reborn into samsara, which their karma actions will influence their new life.