Gautama first went to study with famous religious teachers of the day, and mastered the meditative attainments they taught. But he found that they did not provide a permanent end to suffering, so he continued his quest. He next attempted an extreme asceticism, which was a religious pursuit common among the śramaṇas, a religious culture distinct from the Vedic one. Gautama underwent prolonged fasting, breath-holding, and exposure to pain. He almost starved himself to death in the process. He realized that he had taken this kind of practice to its limit, and had not put an end to suffering. So in a pivotal moment he accepted milk and rice from a village girl and changed his approach. He devoted himself to anapanasati meditation, through which he discovered what Buddhists call the Middle Way (Skt. madhyamā-pratipad): a path of moderation between the extremes of self-indulgence and self-mortification.[web 2][web 3] COUNT 11
QSN1 What was the first thing Gautama did on his spiritual quest? ANS1 went to study with famous religious teachers of the day QSN2 What is the path of moderation between the extremes of self-indulgence and self-mortification called? ANS2 the Middle Way QSN3 What are some of the practices Gautama underwent on his quest? ANS3 prolonged fasting, breath-holding, and exposure to pain QSN4 What was the first skill Gautama learnt? ANS4 meditation QSN5 What almost killed Gautama in his pursuit? ANS5 asceticism QSN6 What did he receive from the locals that changed his approach? ANS6 milk and rice QSN7 What is the path of moderation called he followed? ANS7 Middle Way QSN8 Gautama didn't like the religious teaching he initially found because of why? ANS8 they did not provide a permanent end to suffering QSN9 What did Gautama accept from a village girl? ANS9 milk and rice QSN10 Gautama devoted himself to what type of meditation? ANS10 anapanasati QSN11 Buddhists call anapanasati what? ANS11 the Middle Way