Buddhism is a religious and philosophical system of spiritual awakening that encompasses a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices. They are based on the teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, often called the Buddha. Gautama lived and preached in the eastern part of the Indian subcontinent between the 6th and 4th centuries B.C. He is regarded by Buddhists as an awakened (enlightened) one, a teacher who shared his insights to help senti...