Seated Lotus Buddha at The British Museum, London

myminifactory

Gautama Buddha, also known as Siddhartha Gautama or Shakyamuni, was a sage whose teachings formed the foundation of Buddhism. He lived and taught primarily in northeastern India between the sixth and fourth centuries BCE. The term Buddha means "awakened one" or "the enlightened one." In most Buddhist traditions, Siddhartha Gautama is regarded as the Supreme Buddha of the present age. Gautama taught a Middle Way between sensual indulgence and the severe asceticism found in the śramaṇa movement common in his region. Siddhartha Gautama, who would later become known as Buddha, resided in Nepal during the 6th to 4th century B.C.E. Scholars concur that he indeed lived, although the specifics of his life remain a topic of debate. According to the most widely known account of his life, after experimenting with various teachings for years and finding them unsatisfactory, Gautama spent a pivotal night in profound contemplation. During this meditation, all of the answers he had been seeking became crystal clear, and he achieved full awareness, thereby becoming Buddha. Gautama is the central figure in Buddhism, and accounts of his life, discourses, and monastic rules are believed by Buddhists to have been compiled after his passing and memorized by his followers. Various collections of teachings attributed to him were transmitted through oral tradition and first committed to writing approximately 400 years later. This object is part of "Scan The World." Scan the World is a non-profit initiative introduced by MyMiniFactory, which aims to create a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks, and landmarks from across the globe for public access at no cost. Scan the World is an open-source community effort; if you have interesting items nearby and would like to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to learn how you can participate. Scanned: Photogrammetry (Processed using Agisoft PhotoScan)