What is Buddhism? Basics 4 - Contents of Enlightenment

    What, then, constituted the essence of the Buddha's enlightenment? The Buddha embarked on his quest by meticulously scrutinizing his mind. Who am I? What is my true nature? What defines the self? After prolonged contemplation, he arrived at a profound realization: there existed no inherent, immutable essence of self. Rather, there existed only the concept of "self"—a mere assumption devoid of substantive grounding. This assumption, ingrained at the core of his being, served as the foundation from which various functions emanated to safeguard and perpetuate this perceived self.

He discerned that the belief of “self” was found to have a strong function to distinguish itself from others and other entities, and to maintain “self” to compete with others for survival.

To illustrate, envision a single wave in the vast expanse of the ocean suddenly awakening to its existence as "I." Surveying the ocean from this newfound self-awareness, it perceives myriad other waves engaged in competitive struggle. Determined not to succumb to the competition, it endeavors to bolster its existence, striving to emerge as a stronger, larger wave amidst the fray.

Yet, the fundamental truth lies in the interconnectedness of all waves within the ocean. Each wave, despite its apparent individuality, shares a common essence and is inherently interconnected with all others. The distinction between waves is but an illusion—a product of assumption. The moment a wave relinquishes its identification as a distinct entity and recognizes its inherent unity with the vast expanse of the ocean, the illusion of self dissolves, and it merges seamlessly with the entirety of the oceanic expanse.

In essence, the Buddha's enlightenment signifies transcending the confines of selfish delusion—the erroneous belief in an independent, isolated self—and attaining awareness of the profound interconnectedness that pervades all existence.

#interconnectedness


 

 

 

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