and self-denial; practicing intense meditation and mindfulness; and ultimately realizing the limitations of extreme self-mortification. Gautama rejected both indulgence in worldly pleasures and extreme forms of self-denial, recognizing that both paths lead to suffering and do not lead to true enlightenment. He then found the middle path, which involves moderation and balance in all aspects of life. Through his deep introspection and meditation, he attained enlightenment and became the Buddha, the awakened one.
