How did enlightenment transform Siddhartha Gautama into the Buddha?

The transformation of Siddhartha Gautama into the Buddha occurred when he attained bodhi, or "awakening," after years of searching for a way to end human suffering.12

Following his renunciation of a life of luxury at age 29, Siddhartha spent six years practicing meditation and extreme asceticism. After concluding that self-mortification was fruitless, he abandoned these practices and sat in meditation under a tree. During this experience, he achieved enlightenment, which is often identified with his realization of the Four Noble Truths.2345

This "awakening" transformed him into a Buddha—an "Awakened One"—who had successfully rid himself of false beliefs and the hindrances of passion. By gaining this profound insight, he discovered the path to freedom from the cycle of samsara (rebirth) and suffering. Having attained this state, he dedicated the remainder of his life to teaching others the Eightfold Path and the doctrine of the middle way, ultimately guiding others toward their own liberation.124