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The demon even sent beautiful women to tempt the Buddha, but nothing would sway him from his determination to find the ultimate meaning of life (Editors).
Therefore, the truth is that historians do not know exactly how Buddha actually attained enlightenment. They know the event occurred, and Buddha left the tree and began his teachings, but the actual event has survived history in many different forms. Perhaps the how and why of his enlightenment is not that important, but it is interesting to note how many different versions there are of the tale. Clearly, it is an important event in the history of Buddhism. That so many versions of the tale exist is a testament to Buddha's own importance to the religion and its roots. While there can be many Buddhas in Buddhism, there is only one Supreme Buddha so far, and his enlightenment helped others move on their own paths toward peace and fulfillment.
Ultimately, the Buddha understood that true enlightenment carried a responsibility. He felt he now understood the human condition and could lead others to salvation, and he had attained release from the human condition so he was qualified to help others find their own enlightenment and inner peace (Carrithers 53). This is what he felt when he attained enlightenment, and why he felt the need to share his knowledge with others. In fact, the word "Buddha" actually means "someone who has woken up," and so, there can be many Buddhas in the Buddhist religion, because anyone is capable of the same spiritual enlightenment the Buddha attained on that night so many thousands of years ago (Hallisey...
Therefore, someday there could be another Supreme Buddha who finds his own enlightenment under a tree in Nepal, and when that occurs, perhaps there will be as many legends and myths surrounding him as there are surrounding the Supreme Buddha.
In conclusion, the Buddha's life became a spiritual and enlightened beacon for others to follow and emulate. He attained ultimate enlightenment by looking inside himself and finding the true tranquility only inner peace and spirituality can bring, but that is all historians know. They do not know the exact location of his enlightenment, or how it actually occurred. They do not even know how long it took. He spent his life caring for others and sharing his beliefs with his followers so they could carry on his work long after he was gone. He lived a good and decent life, and truly should be remembered as the Supreme Buddha.
References
Buddha Leaves Spiritual Connection; Five Symbols Represent His Love, Teaching." The Washington Times 6 Nov. 2006: A02.
Carrithers, Michael. The Buddha: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press, 2001.
Editors. "About Buddha." AboutBuddha.org. 2007. 27 April 2007. http://www.aboutbuddha.org/english/life-of-buddha-4.htm
Griffiths, Paul J. On Being Buddha: The Classical Doctrine of Buddhahood. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press, 1994.
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