How did Gautama try to find wisdom?

Answer 1

Gautama, who later became known as the Buddha, sought wisdom through various means, including rigorous ascetic practices and meditation. Initially, he practiced extreme self-denial and fasting to achieve enlightenment, believing that physical deprivation would lead to spiritual insight. However, he ultimately recognized that neither indulgence nor extreme asceticism was the path to wisdom, leading him to adopt the Middle Way—a balanced approach to life. Through deep meditation under the Bodhi tree, he attained enlightenment and profound understanding of the nature of suffering and the path to liberation.