Who is the main living religious figure in Buddhism?

Answer 1

While the Dalai Lama is perhaps the best known of Buddhist leaders and many westerners think of him as the leader of all Buddhists, he is in reality the leader of only the Gelug or "Yellow Hat" branch of Tibetan Buddhism. Buddhism has no single leader. Like Christianity each sect and school subscribes to a different leadership (as an example all Christians do not acknowledge the Pope as the leader of every Christian denomination). A list of several Buddhist leaders is at the link.

Answer 2

The Buddha is the main person in the Buddhist religion even though he is no longer alive. His example and teachings are central for all Buddhists. The most famous Buddhist leader alive today is the Dalai Lama - the exiled religious and temporal leader of Tibet.

Answer 3

A Buddhist must look primarily to himself to reduce his suffering and proceed towards enlightenment. The Buddha servers as an example and a demonstration that the goal is attainable, the Sangha (a word that can be translated roughly as association, assembly, "company or community of teachers and fellow practitioners with a common goal, vision or purpose) serve as support and inspiration, but a person is responsible for his own actions.

Answer 4

Budha founder of Buddhism
If you're referring to Buddhism then it is the Buddah :)