Siddhartha Gautama's path to finding enlightenment was greatly shaped by two important practices: meditation and asceticism. Let’s break down how each one helped him.

Meditation:

• Meditation was at the heart of his journey.
• It helped him understand suffering and what life really means.
• Through meditation, he learned to be focused and aware of his thoughts.

Asceticism:

• At first, he tried extreme self-denial. He thought this would bring him enlightenment.
• Eventually, he discovered that balance was important.
• This led him to find a middle ground, which he called the "Middle Way."

These two practices helped shape his teachings and laid the groundwork for Buddhism.