Explain two ways that the Buddha's ascetic life influences Buddhists today. [4 marks]

The Buddha’s ascetic life teaches Buddhists the importance of following ‘the middle way’.

He found that neither extreme luxury nor extreme asceticism helped him to become enlightened.

As a result, Buddhists today know to avoid these things too.

It also teaches Buddhists the importance of meditation.

It was through intense meditation that the Buddha finally became enlightened

Many Buddhists today practice meditation too, hoping to become enlightened like him.