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]
What was the first thing Gautama did on his spiritual quest? What is the path of moderation between the extremes of self-indulgence and self-mortification called? What are some of the practices Gautama underwent on his quest? What was the first skill Gautama learnt? What almost killed Gautama in his pursuit? What did he receive from the locals that changed his approach? What is the path of moderation called he followed? Gautama didn't like the religious teaching he initially found because of why? What did Gautama accept from a village girl? Gautama devoted himself to what type of meditation? Buddhists call anapanasati what?