He was protected from even seeing suffering and death. 534 BC The 29 year old Gautama ventured out without the streets being properly cleared. He wandered the land for six years seeking answers to human misery. He sought answers in Hindu philosophy and extreme asceticism. The Four Noble Truths Suffering is inevitable.
Desire causes suffering.
Overcoming desire cures suffering. The symbol of Buddhism is a meditating man who is oblivious to his suffering. The symbol of Christianity is a cross. Right understanding, thought, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, and concentration require a person to be perfect in all he thinks, feels, says, and does. A devout Buddhist struggling to achieve the perfection which he believes Buddha attained can identify with Paul's struggle with imperfection.