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Both branches have millions of believers today but Mahayana is the larger branch.

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He taught that people who failed to reach nirvana would have to be reborn time and time again until they achieved it.

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Many herders, farmers, artisans, and untouchables liked hearing that their low social rank would not be a barrier to their enlightenment.

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Members of the Theravada branch tried to follow the Buddha's teachings as he stated them.

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Two major branches of Buddhism were created. They were called- Theravada and Mahayana.

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Disagreements between Buddhists led to a split within the religion.

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500 of Buddha's followers gathered together after he died.

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By the time of his death around 483 BC, the Buddha's influence was spreading throughout India.

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The Buddha gained followers among the higher classes.

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Unlike Hinduism, Buddhism made people feel like they had the power to change their lives.

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The Buddha taught that every person who followed the Eightfold Path properly would reach nirvana.

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He taught that the responsibility of each person to work for his or her own salvation.

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The Eightfold Path was a path that the Buddha believed and was a middle way between human desires and denying oneself any pleasure.

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Buddha's teachings had four guiding principles.

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Buddha was raised Hindu and most of the teachings reflected Hindu ideas.

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Many of the followers were merchants and artisans and they were the first believers of Buddhism.

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Siddhartha wondered wondered why there was so much pain in the world.

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Siddhartha asked many questions to priests but no one could give convincing answers to his questions.

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Siddhartha was called the Buddha and spent the rest of his life traveling northern India

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Siddhartha never had to struggle with people of his time faced. But he did feel like something was missing in life.

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Siddhartha spent most of his time to meditation which was the focus of the mind on spiritual ideas.

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Siddhartha spent seven more weeks under the tree named the Tree of Wisdom and when he was about 35 years old he found enlightenment under the tree.

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Siddhartha spent 6 years in India and eventually came to a place near the town of Gaya closes to the Ganges River.

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Siddhartha traveled all over India and had discussions with priests and people known for their wisdom.

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Before Siddhartha was 30 he left his home and family to look for answers about the meaning of human life.

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Siddhartha Gautama was born in 563 BC and was born a Kshatriya.