Gautama Buddha is also known as Siddharta Gautama, or simply the Buddha, which means Awakened or Enlightened . Born a prince, he chose a path of ascetism only to realize that it was as profound an illusion as self-indulgence. He achieved Enlightenment after 49 days of meditation his awakening led him to discover the cause of suffering and the ways to eliminate it. These discoveries founded Buddhism, and his Four Noble Truths still form the heart of its teachings. We have selected for you 100 of Buddha s most influential quotes, to lead you towards a more awakened life, free from suffering and deeply conscious.