Buddha or Myth: Uncovering Siddhartha Gautama

The provided episode focuses on The Buddha, also known as Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism. This extensive overview covers the Buddha's historical existence as a wandering ascetic in South Asia during the 6th or 5th century BCE and details his biography, including his birth in Lumbini, his renunciation of the household life, and his attainment of Nirvana and Parinirvana. The episode meticulously outlines his core teachings, such as the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path, and discusses the historical and biographical sources used to understand his life, noting that early texts contain fewer mythical elements than later traditional biographies. Furthermore, the episode addresses the Buddha’s place in Mahāyāna traditions (where he is often viewed as a transcendent, eternal being) and his reception and portrayal in other religions, including Hinduism and Islam.