This effortful struggle, known as the , is what eventually allowed him to claim his seat under the Bo-tree. When challenged by the demon Mara, the Buddha did not rely on a god; he relied on the "effort of his many past lives" and the perfection of his own knowledge. The Pedagogy of the Middle Way
Ages ago, long before he was known as the Buddha, a young hermit named lay in the mud to serve as a living bridge for a passing Buddha. In that moment of profound humility, he did not merely wish for his own peace; he made a mighty resolve . While he could have crossed the "ocean of existence" alone into Nirvana, he chose instead to endure countless lifetimes of trial so he might eventually become a Buddha and redeem all of humanity.
When the Buddha finally began to teach, he utilized ( upāya ), recognizing that every individual has a different "capacity for truth". His teachings often followed a three-tiered approach: Pariyatti : Learning the theoretical Dhamma (teachings). Buddhist Philosophy - Essential Readings - Khamkoo
: The fisherman asked what he would gain by losing his prize. The Buddha replied that by releasing the fish, he would "free himself from greed and attachment," a reward far greater than any gold.
: He taught that even his own teachings are like a raft used to cross a turbulent river. Once you reach the other shore, you must let the raft go; you do not carry it on your back forever. This effortful struggle, known as the , is
To illustrate the danger of attachment, the Buddha often told stories like that of the . When a fisherman caught a beautiful fish to sell for a high price, the Buddha asked him to release it.
: The path to enlightenment is not forced; it is a choice born from individual meditation on the nature of suffering. In that moment of profound humility, he did
: Like Sumedha, a practitioner must recognize their "enslavement to decay" and determine that a "road to release" must exist.