Before Siddhartha Gautama transcended into who we know as The Buddha, he first had to endure six years of intense asceticism. Many religious gurus at the time believed spiritual enlightenment was obtained through abstinence and extreme physical training. Relinquishing his life of royalty, Gautama left behind his life of luxury and followed their teachings in hopes of finding revelation.

The story of Sojeata dates back over a 2,500 years...

After years of relentless fasting and starvation, Gautama was unable to find the answers he was looking for. However, despite his numerous failures, he still had hope and kept pushing on with his training. He pledged to never stop his spiritual training until he found enlightenment; even if it meant risking his life.

Gautama was left speechless. Since the inception of his journey, he had followed the wisdom of the gurus but wound up only punishing himself both physically and mentally. Despite all of the teachings of the great masters who preceded him, Gautama realized his final affirmations through his humbling experience with Sojeata.

In Buddhist mythology, Sojeata was a village milkmaid who was said to have gifted the Buddha a bowl of milk.

Upon the brink of his final breath, Gautama one day was approached by Sojeata, a village milkmaid. Seeing the dire condition he was in, Sojeata made an offering of milk porridge. At first, Gautama interjected, explaining to her his spiritual journey. With a kind smile, Sojeata replied back to him, "This maybe so, but how can you continue your spiritual journey, if your body and health cannot take you there?"

Compassion was the answer he had been searching for all along. Upon the simple yet profound realization he had obtained from Sojeata, Gautama vowed not to leave the bodhi tree until he had applied this newfound truth

After 49 days of unwavering meditation, the Buddha had finally become the "Enlightenment One."