What is Buddhism? - Basics 2 - What is Enlightenment?

    Buddhism, as its name suggests, revolves around the teachings of the Buddha. Hence, to grasp the essence of Buddhism, it's crucial to understand who the Buddha was.

The individual who propagated Buddhism is known as Shakyamuni Buddha, born Gautama Siddhartha approximately 2,500 years ago in the region near the present-day border of India and Nepal, into the Sakya tribe's royal lineage. Despite his privileged upbringing, Siddhartha grappled with profound existential questions concerning the nature of life. He pondered why beings in the world perpetually engaged in conflict and why suffering seemed inherent to existence. His aspiration was for all beings to coexist harmoniously, free from sorrow and strife. But as he took a closer look at reality, he encountered a world full of survival struggles and suffering.

Driven by an intense quest for answers, Siddhartha renounced his princely status, departed his palace, and embarked on a spiritual journey. He explored various practices aimed at maximizing the human mind's potential, including rigorous asceticism involving extreme physical hardship. However, Siddhartha realized that such practices failed to yield the insights he sought; his physical and mental turmoil obstructed his perception of reality's true nature.

Subsequently, he discovered a path leading to optimal physical and mental equilibrium, forsaking extreme asceticism. In this balanced state, he delved into his inner world, ultimately uncovering the answers to his existential inquiries—the essence of life and being. Thus, Siddhartha attained enlightenment, becoming a Buddha—a term signifying one who has awakened to the true nature of all things.

What distinguishes ordinary individuals from a Buddha? While ordinary people may experience fleeting moments of realization akin to an "aha" experience, these insights dissipate amidst the tumult of everyday thoughts. A Buddha, however, maintains a sustained state of profound understanding—continuously dwelling in the clarity of enlightenment.

Hence, by cultivating opportunities for such enlightening experiences, ordinary individuals can gradually approach the Buddha's enlightened state. Strategies for fostering these "aha" moments will be explored further in subsequent discussions.

Traditional interpretations of Buddhism, particularly based on Chinese translations of Buddhist scriptures, often depict the Buddha's enlightenment as an incomprehensible feat unattainable by ordinary individuals. It was portrayed as an eternal mystery, compelling aspirants to engage in arduous, protracted practices in pursuit of an elusive goal.

Contrarily, Sanskrit scriptures (written in an ancient Indian language) that enlightenment is accessible to all, and attainable even daily. However, the Buddha's enlightenment is distinguished by its completeness, perfection, and permanence—a stark contrast to the fleeting insights experienced by ordinary individuals.

Enlightenment, therefore, is not the sole prerogative of the Buddha; it is a vast realm open to all who aspire to its attainment, if only for a fleeting moment.

#ShakyamuniBuddha #GautamaSiddhartha


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