The Buddha (563–483 bce), also known as Siddhartha Gautama, was one of the greatest philosophers of the world. He was born a prince of the Shakya clan of Kapilavastu in present-day Nepal in sixth century bce. While leading a life of luxury and comfort, he was shocked to see the universality of suffering. He renounced his family, rank, and material possessions at the age of twenty-nine to search for deliverance from old age, illness, and death. He led the life of an ascetic for many years and attained enlightenment at the age of thirty-five and became the Buddha. He believed that desire and ignorance lie at the root of suffering. As a spiritual teacher, the Buddha developed a pragmatic middle path. He preached selflessness, non-violence, righteousness, and right living to liberate the soul f