Gautama now followed a wandering life of total self-denial but he found it did not satisfy his aims. Finally he seated himself beneath a bodhi tree at Bodhgaya, vowing to meditate until he solved the problem of human suffering. An evil demon, Mara, attacked with armies of demons and seductive women but could not deflect Gautama from his purpose. After six years, Gautama gained enlightenment, becoming the Buddha.
