Ask Osho!

Did the severe austerities practiced by Buddha serve a purpose before his enlightenment?

Synthesized from Source outcome

"Austerity can exhaust the seeker, but true enlightenment arises not from effort, but from the profound stillness that follows."

Trying very hard didn’t give Buddha awakening, but it tired him enough to truly be still so it could happen.
Why this matters practically
- Notice when seeking becomes restless running, and cultivate genuine stillness.
- Don’t imitate shortcuts; let sincere effort ripen into the insight to stop.
- Prioritize depth and honesty in practice over duration or severity.
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