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When a person gains enlightenment, they are able to understand the very meaning of life and free themself from suffering. Siddattha Gotama was, from the moment he gained enlightenment, known as the Buddha (enlightened one).
The Buddha could have chosen then and there to die and enter Parinibbana, a perfect state that can be achieved only after bodily death. However, he instead chose to live on and teach others how to end their suffering. For 45 years, the Buddha travelled around India teaching the Dhamma (known as the Dharma in Sanskrit). Many people liked his teaching so much they travelled with him, and soon a community of Buddhist monks and nuns was formed, called the Sangha. Eventually, at the age of 80, the Buddha passed away and entered Parinibbana.
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