Becoming Buddha

Who is Buddha?

Buddha is a great human being as explained to a Brahmin by Buddha himself:
“O Brahmin, a blue lotus, red lotus, or white lotus is born in water. It grows in the water. But it remains uncontaminated and untouched by water. I too am like that. I was born among the men of this world. But I have been above the world and ordinary men and women. I am not attached to the world. Therefore, O Brahmin, I am a superior human being who has destroyed all the weaknesses of ordinary human beings. In short, I am a Buddha.”

Regarding the achievability of higher states:
“O monks, give up the evil. Evil can be given up. I would not ask you to give up evil, if evil cannot be given up. I say this because only because giving up evil is conducive to good and happiness.”

Conception of the World and the Individual in it

One day someone asked the Buddha where the World was situated. The Buddha replied: “The World is situated on suffering.” The Buddha saw the three characteristics of: impermanence, dukkha(suffering), and soullessness in all created things.

Buddha indicated the path to “the release from suffering.” “One is one’s own savior. How can another help him ?”

By becoming Buddha, He gave the highest possible place a human being could give, to human wisdom and humanity. Buddha is the only human being – the only religious teacher – who demonstrated that the wise and virtuous human being is nobler, more powerful and greater than even god.

Buddha was human. His message rests on human’s ability to be good. Also, emphasis on one’s own efforts is the key principle of life.

A Licchavi king asked Buddha: “Is it true that you know the magic of hypnotizing people, of attracting and holding them to you?”

Buddha replied: “Please do not accept anything simply because you heard it, or because it came down through generations, or because it was so recorded in history, or because it is stated so in in the text, or because it squares with logic and the theory. You must accept something only when you yourself see it as the truth.”

Buddhist Way

Five promises of a Buddhist – Panch Sila:
1. I promise not to kill any living being.
2. I will avoid taking what is not willingly given.
3. I will be generous.
4. I will abstain from sexual misconduct and cultivate physical contentment.
5 I will avoid intoxicants.

Eight fold Path:

1. Right understanding
2. Right thought
3. Right speech
4. Right livelihood
5. Right bodily action
6. Right effort
7. Right mindfulness
8. Right concentration

Nirvana is with us. We must acquire it ourselves – we ourselves must discover it – realize it. It is not something that we can acquire through the help of others.

Buddha did not approve of exaggerated honor and respect, not only to himself but also to his Doctrine.
“O monks, I compare the Doctrine to a raft. It is necessary for crossing a river. It is not for carrying over your shoulders.”

Buddha as Thought and Social Revolutionary

He saw that all human beings were caught up in a mass of suffering. He decided to find out the cause of this suffering, and the path to the eradication of suffering. At that time people all over the world believed in a soul, the Buddha appeared and boldly announced that there was no soul.

Buddha realized the futility of self-mortification. This resulted in enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree. He explained that the extreme paths of luxury/self-mortification are equally futile. He outlined the middle path and the eight fold path.

The main characteristic of Buddhism is being truthful. The ten perceptions to be attained are: Giving, Morality, Renunciation, Wisdom, Energy, Patience, Truthfulness, Resolution, Loving-Kindness, and Equanimity.

Advanced World and Buddhism

As the societies become more and more progressive, Buddhism becomes eminently suitable for that kind of progressive society. Buddha attacked the reactionary ideas quite vigorously. He gave women human rights. He always disregarded such divisions as nations, clans and castes.
Asked about his system, Buddha said: In my form of cultivation the seed paddy is devotion. Morality is rainwater. My insight, knowledge, and the knowledge of the path are my plough. Sense of shame is the head of the plough. Mind is the ploughshare. My concentration is the goad.

Buddha wanted people to see the impermanence of life and the value of life, and to make them achieve the highest fruit of their lives. Buddha instructed the laymen to divide their income into four portions: one for day-to-day living, two for investment in various enterprises and one to be saved for emergencies.

Buddhism and Hinduism

Buddha retained rebirth idea so that people do not do the wrong things as they would confront them according to the Law of Karma. He wanted to make people lead happy and contented lives. Peaceful coexistence was a fundamental teaching.

Buddha preached against animal sacrifice and the monopoly of Brahmins on the development of intellect. Buddha did not approve of the caste system. No formula as socialist and a democratic exists as in the three principles of:
Bahujan Hitaaya (good of the many), Bahujan Sukhaaya (wellbeing of many), and Lokanukampaaya (compassion for the world).