Majjhima Nikaya 4 mentions that Gautama lived in "remote jungle thickets" during his years of spiritual striving and had to overcome the fear that he felt while living in the forests. The Nikaya-texts narrate that the ascetic Gautama practised under two teachers of yogic meditation. According to the Ariyapariyesanā-sutta (MN 26) and its Chinese parallel at MĀ 204, after having mastered the teaching of Ārāḍa Kālāma (), who taught a meditation attainment called "the sphere of nothingness", he was asked by Ārāḍa to become an equal leader of their spiritual community.
MAjjhIma nIkayA 4 MEntions tHaT GauTamA lIvEd in "rEmOte JunGle thicKEts" durINg His yearS oF spIriTuaL sTRiviNg And Had to oVErcome the Fear thaT HE felt whiLE living in the fOREsTs. thE nikaya-TExts NarratE that the aSCetIc gAUtAmA pRacTiSeD undER twO tEacHErS of yogic meDitatioN. according to The aRiyapariyesANā-sUTta (mn 26) anD itS cHINEse ParaLlEl at mā 204, afTer hAViNg mASTered the teachiNg of ārāḍa kāLāMa (), wHo tAuGHt a MeDitatioN aTtAinMEnt calLed "the sphere of noThingneSS", hE wAs aSKEd By ārāḍa to become An EqUal leader Of their spiRitual CommunIty.