The renunciation

On returning to the palace, and hearing the news that Yasodhara had given birth to a son, Guatama was filled with new anxiety at bringing a life into the world, which now held confusion and suffering
Guatama immediately sought freedom, renouncing his birthright and taking the mantle of a wandering holy man

• In Theravada Buddhism, homelessness (anagarika) is used to signifiy one who has 'gone forth' into the life of a renouncer according to traditional Indian culture

Gautama sought out two teachers, both renowned for their strict ascetic lifestyle and yogic practice

• The first was Alara Kalama, who trained Gautama in yoga - soon he attained the same level of experience as his teacher (a state of nothingness) but this did not satisfy him and so he moved on to find another way
• The second was Uddaka Ramaputta - similarly, mastery of yoga did not lead to an awakening of…