Cultures: India, China, Southeast Asia, JapanContext:Founded by Siddhartha Gautama, a young Hindu prince - lived in Nepal from 563-483 BCE, rejected wealth and world possessions and became Buddha (Enlightened One)No supreme being - 4 Noble Truth: (1) all life is suffering, (2) suffering caused by desire, (3) can be freed of desire, (4) freed of desire following a prescribed pathMahayana Buddhism: great ritual, spiritual comfort - more complex but with greater spreadTheravada Buddhism: meditation, simplicity, nirvana as renunciation of consciousness and selfrejects caste system - appealed to those of lower rank