Buddhism originated in the Indian subcontinent and survived through its remarkable cultural adaptability, a concept known as “skillful means.” It developed in reaction to pre-existing Brahmanic and Jain philosophies, explicitly rejecting the caste system to assert that everyone possesses an equal Buddha-nature. Shakyamuni Buddha grounded his teachings in the four facts, which outline the existence of life’s problems, their causes, their stoppings and the true paths to eliminate confusion. As the religion expanded over centuries, early oral traditions were codified into the eighteen Hinayana schools, which primarily focused on achieving individual liberation. To accommodate vaster spiritual goals, the Mahayana tradition subsequently emerged to emphasize universal enlightenment, while tantric Buddhism later introduced advanced visualization and energy techniques. This extensive philosophical evolution was supported by the establishment of great monastic universities like Nalanda, where these complex tenets were systematically debated and refined. Although Turkic invasions eventually destroyed these Indian monasteries and ended Buddhism in its homeland, the religion successfully survived by taking root in foreign lands.