[Gymnfacymoota]

Hi,

I've read loads of stories about how Buddha become to be. That he put his past life behind him. Left his palace, wife and child. Showing that to gain something you must first lose everything. Now I'm not planning on losing anything but the 6 years or so that he spent meditating and putting his body through unimaginable amounts of pain and stress.

Now I'm quite new still to Buddhism, so I was wondering. To become a Buddhist do we have to give up some things in our life? Meditate nearly every waking second a day? Are these the tasks/rituals we must part-take in? This may sound quite stupid, but I do not understand. How is one fully a Buddhist?

Edward.