Alara Kalama was one of the teachers Siddhattha studied under and practiced austerities with in his efforts toward enlightenment. Alara Kalama and Siddhattha attained to high levels of jhana, but no ultimate insight of enlightenment. How the Bodhisatta took instructions from the holy sage Alara was described thus: After these words of encouragement, Alara gave him practical instructions on the doctrine. "It is not by mere faith that Alara announces that he has learned the Dhamma. Alara has surely realized the Dhamma himself, he knows and understands it." Then he utter these words of praise,