Initiated by Buddha, Buddhism is one of the oldest religions, dating back approximately six centuries BCE, which still exists to this day. It remains popular in Western countries. With numerous quotes and ideologies guiding individuals in the fulfillment of human life, Buddhism is not just a religion but also a viewpoint and philosophy. The principles of Buddhism can be adopted by all human entities without the need for conversion or rituals. However, their ultimate goal is to attract thousands of individuals to the Buddhist community to add to the 300 million followers scattered worldwide.
Who is Buddha?
The true Buddha is the founder of Buddhism. Several questions arise whether he was a God, an angel, a revealer, or a normal person. Despite much debate, Buddha was a human being.
History of Buddha
The term Buddha means "the enlightened one." This personality is then a man endowed with particular strengths, profound wisdom, and noble character. Siddhartha Gautama, also known as Shakyamuni, is the Buddha himself. During his travels in Eastern India, he began sharing his words of wisdom. He left about 84,000 types of teachings.
During his teachings, he always announced that his words were practical theories that all followers could verify throughout their existences. Hence the quotes "Do not blindly follow my teaching, test it for yourself" and "Doubt everything, especially what I am about to tell you."
According to history, before Shakyamuni, there were already 3 Buddhas named Krakucchanda, Kanakamuni, and Kashyapa. These figures appeared before the disappearance of Buddhist teaching, which lasted for about 5,000 years.
Perception of Buddha in Society
As Christ is the leader of Christianity, Buddha is the master of Buddhism. Buddha is somewhat the God or idol of this religion. To correct all false perceptions about this spiritual leader of Buddhism, a Tibetan master named Kyabdjé Kalou Rimpotché has provided his viewpoint.
In 1986, he stated in Taipei during his speech that: "Ordinary beings experience suffering and pain in very diverse forms. A buddha, on the other hand, has gone beyond suffering (...). A buddha and an ordinary being are identical. They fundamentally possess the same nature. To recognize it is to be a buddha, not to recognize it is to be an ordinary being. This is the only difference."
More precisely, a Buddha is a sacred person who stands out from all living beings by his high degree of awakening and wisdom. In other words, Buddha is a human being who has achieved perfect enlightenment.
The Five Patriarch Buddhas
We often hear about a Buddha of love, a Buddha of compassion, or a Buddha of wisdom. In fact, each Buddha is qualified according to his quality of mind. The five victorious Buddhas are:
- Vairocana,
- Amithabha,
- Askhobya,
- Ratnasambhava,
- and Amoghasiddhi.
They possess perfect mind awakening, and above all, the 5 primordial spirits in Buddhism.
- Vairocana inspires the pure knowledge of the mind. This Buddha teaches methods to combat fear in embarrassing situations.
- Amitabbha embodies the spirit of motivation and joy of living, combating depression.
- Akshobya is known for his quality of liberator from anger.
- Ratnasambhava prioritizes equality among all human beings.
- Amoghasiddhi is the symbol of giving and generosity.
Living Buddhas
With the increasing number of individuals using the name of Buddha to scam Buddhist believers, China recently released a list of authentic living Buddhas. Buddhists can now verify if their spiritual leader appears on this list. China has a Religious Affairs agency that participated in the development of this list. Drukhang Thubten Khedrup is one of these authentic Buddhas.
This document was also prepared for the State to facilitate official religious appointments. According to Tibetan Buddhist belief, Tenzin Gyatso is the 14th Dalai Lama, hence a spiritual and political leader of Tibet.
Buddha's Teachings
All spiritual leaders of Buddhism, bearing the title of Buddha, base their teachings on lifestyles adapted to lead a perfect existence. The principles of Buddhism advocate wisdom, understanding among humans, and peace in the world.
Buddhism, the Religion of Peace
Buddha opposes war and violence. There is no justification for torture against others. Buddhism thus participates in the fight against injustice and inequality. It tolerates all religions existing in the world. This is why Buddhists have never engaged in war. In a quote, Buddha expressed his opinion such as "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." This statement encourages everyone to rely on love instead of war, to show humility instead of pride towards others.
Buddhism, a Religion against Wealth
Buddha left a life lesson for all those interested in his wisdom. In fact, in Buddhism, true wealth comes from within. Practitioners are somewhat trained to live a simple life, even in suffering. It is not surprising that several Buddhist countries are very poor. In his quote
"Let us rise being grateful, for if we have not learned much today, we have learned a little. And if we draw nothing from the little we have learned, at least we are not sick. And if we are not sick, at least we are not dead. So be all grateful."
Buddha encourages everyone to appreciate what they already have, without seeking other alternatives for an improvement in the standard of social living. In short, Buddhism encourages its followers to focus on spiritual matters while neglecting material concerns.
1 comment
Gérard Bethmont
qu’elle est el nom du 10eme Bouddha ?