sidhartha gautama was able to discover the Middle Way and enlightenment by:
Living as a Hindu prince
Living among religious ascetics
Mediating under the bodhi Tree
Enduring a life of suffering.
All of the above statements contributed to Siddhartha Gautama's journey towards discovering the Middle Way and attaining enlightenment.
1. Living as a Hindu prince: Siddhartha Gautama was born into a wealthy royal family and lived a lavish lifestyle. This upbringing allowed him to understand the pleasures and materialistic attachments that come with worldly life.
2. Living among religious ascetics: Seeking deeper answers to the nature of suffering, Siddhartha left his palace to live with ascetics and renounce worldly possessions. Through their teachings and practices, he explored extreme forms of self-denial and meditation, trying to find answers to his existential questions.
3. Meditating under the bodhi Tree: Dissatisfied with extreme practices, Siddhartha decided to meditate under a Bodhi tree, vowing not to arise until he attained full enlightenment. It was during this meditation that he discovered the Middle Way, which advocates for moderation and balance, avoiding extremes of self-indulgence and self-mortification.
4. Enduring a life of suffering: Throughout his various experiences, Siddhartha witnessed the suffering and dissatisfaction pervading human existence. This understanding of suffering forms a crucial foundation for his pursuit of enlightenment and discovering the Middle Way, as he sought to find a way to alleviate the suffering of all beings.
Overall, it was Siddhartha Gautama's cumulative experiences of living as a Hindu prince, dwelling among religious ascetics, meditating under the bodhi tree, and recognizing the pervasive nature of suffering that ultimately led him to discover the Middle Way and attain enlightenment.