The Buddhist Path: How does one follow the path to nirvana, according to Buddhism? What does one do to become a monk or nun? And finally, in what ways is this similar to or different from the Hindu path to moksha?

Siddhartha Gautama founded Buddhism in India around 2500 years ago. It has been spread across South East Asia and East Asia and is one of the major world religions. Gautama was born a prince in present-day Nepal in the Shakya clan. He renounced his lay life and turned an ascetic. He came to be called the 'Budda' meaning 'the enlightened one' after he attained enlightenment under a peepal tree (sacred fig) in Gaya, in the present-day Bihar state of India.