Enlightenment in Buddhism
For many Buddhists, the enlightenmentThe realisation of the truth about life. In Buddhism it releases a person from the cycle of rebirth. of the Buddha is the most significant part of his life. It is here where many Buddhists draw their inspiration and it gives authority to the Buddha鈥檚 teachings.
The Buddha鈥檚 ascetic life
During the Buddha鈥檚 early enlightenment, he encountered an Indian asceticA person who gives up the pleasures of normal life. who encouraged him to deprive himself. The Buddha said that he would do so in order to attempt to achieve supreme knowledge.
He sat under a bodhi tree and he slowly starved and grew exhausted. This period of self-denial meant he deprived himself of food, shelter and clothes. This part of his life was filled with extremes, such as severe malnourishment and extreme tiredness, coupled with feeling little or no warmth as he sat under the tree. It is said that during this period he found the Middle WayAlso known as the Eightfold Path, in Buddhism the Middle Way represents the state between living a life of self-indulgence and one of denial. It is the ideal way to live..
Meditation
The Buddha鈥檚 enlightenment encourages Buddhists to engage in Buddhist practices, such as meditationThinking quietly as a spiritual or religious exercise. Connection of the mind and soul with the Divine using breathing and other techniques. In Buddhism, using one of a set of techniques or exercises for calming the mind, developing positive emotions and understanding the way things are.. Meditation is the way in which the Buddha gained enlightenment, and this is a fundamental practice in Buddhism.
The Buddha refused to stop meditating until he had found supreme enlightenment. A central teaching that he achieved was that temptation can be overcome. He had gone from a life of privilege to overcoming the temptation of basic human needs. After he had achieved enlightenment, he shared his knowledge with others.