Question

Match Siddhartha's actions that led him to the Middle Way. are these right

(life of suffering added to)
Leads to
life with religious ascetics

l


(life as Hindu prince)
leads to

life given to pleasures


(meditating under Bodhi Tree)
leads to

enlightenment

Answer 1

The actions are adequately matched.

• A life of suffering will lead to a life with religious ascetics. However, it is seen as one of the extremes that should be avoided because self mortification is unprofitable and unworthy.
• A life as an Hindu Prince leads to a life given to pleasures. This is seen as the other extreme because it also leads to being unworthy and unprofitable.
• Meditating under the Bodhi Tree leads to the path of enlightment. It is what leads to "The Middle Way" between "Eternalism" (which is denied by Buddhism) and "Annihilationism" (Budhism accepts the fact of existence. Therefore things can be destroyed.)