The roots of Buddhism lie in the story of a prince who renounced the gilded cage in which he was raised in order to seek enlightenment.
The Buddhist message has been elegantly disseminated through a book of parables known as the Jataka Tales, and through its various schools.
Nalanda University was one of foremost centers of Buddhist scholarship, while Indian emperor Ashoka's embrace of Buddhism helped spread its message.
Through the patronage of kings and the efforts of traveling Buddhist merchants, Buddhism spread from India to Central and East Asia.
Buddhism holds that the key to overcoming suffering is the dissolution of desire, and that this can be achieved through the eight-fold path.
The egalitarian, non-discriminatory nature of Buddhism has made it a popular religion, resulting in the establishment of communities called Sanghas.
