Sidhartha Guatama founded Buddhism in 563 BC. He was born the son of a noble, living a privileged life. He married, had a son and believed he was happy. All of this changed when Sidhartha was exposed to the realities of life. He saw an old man, shriveled with age, a sick man, crippled by disease, and a dead man. All of this shocked him. Sidhartha had never seen any of these things before, so he set out to find the answers to his many questions. He gave up his claim to His father's throne, left his son and wife, and studies with 2 Brahmin monks, learning meditation and self-denial.

Buddha studied for six years, fasting to near death, and still his desires for knowledge remained. He began to eat again, and left the harsh practices of the monks. At the age of 35, frustrated and discouraged, Buddha sat next to...