Photo scanned from The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Mythology by Arthur Cotterell and Rachel Storm (2002, Select Editions): Siddhārtha Gautama is the Buddha who is regarded as the founder of the Buddhism faith and philosophy; he attained enlightenment after many incarnations as a bodhisattva, or 'buddha-to-be,' setting an example for all Buddhists to follow.

The Enlightened One
In Buddhism, a Buddha has come to be known as one who rediscovers the Dharma—the truth; the nature of reality, of the mind, and of the affliction of the human condition; and the correct "path" to liberation—by Enlightenment, which is attained after good karma (action) is perfectly maintained and all negative, unskillful actions are abandoned.