Buddha`s teachings are more important than Buddha himself. Buddha`s teachings are known as Dhamma. Buddha has not appointed any successor after him. At the time of Mahaparinirvana he told to his personal attending desciple Ananda to fallow his teachings after his death.
== == "If you see the Buddha, Kill the Buddha." Meaning; the teachings are important, not the teacher. The Buddhist honor their teacher but do not worship them as gods.
He strictly followed the teachings of Buddha.
The Tripitaka (three baskets) is a set of books that contains the Buddha's teachings. It is comprised of the Sutras, sermons and teachings of Buddha; Abhidharma, discourses on interpretation of the doctrine; and Vinay, rules for monks and nuns in monastic life. So the Tripitaka defines what Buddhism is and how we are to live our lives. Other important works are "A Guide to the Bodhisattva Way of Life" by Shantideva, The Dhammapada, by the Buddha. More contemporary works are "The Heart of Buddha Teachings" and "peace is Every Step" by Thich Nhat Hanh, and "How to Practice. A guide to a meaningful Life" by His Holiness, The 14th Dalai Lama.
Dharma
The wheel
The teachings of the Buddha
Buddhists incorporate the teachings of Buddha into their lives. Most are aware of the story of his life from his birth as a Prince to his enlightenment, and many know of his period of teaching until his death at about the age of eighty. The teachings, not his story are the important part.
They believe in Lord Buddha. They follow Lord Buddha's teachings.
Freedom from Ignorance. As the Buddha taught "The moon reflected in a cup of water is not the moon." "Without doubt, there can be no enlightenment." "All our prejudices, hates, anger, fears, worries, are due to ignorance."
Buddha rejected the idea of the caste system and the influence of gods in man's progress towards enlightenment.
The dhamma.
Lord Buddha