Buddha: Difference between revisions
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'''Buddha''' [Skt.] - ''Sangyé'' [Tib.], usually refers to [[Shakyamuni Buddha]], the Indian prince Gautama Siddhartha, who reached [[enlightenment]] in the sixth century B.C., and who taught the spiritual path followed by millions all over Asia, known today as Buddhism. Buddha, however, also has a much deeper meaning. It means anyone who has completely awakened from [[ignorance]] and opened to his or her vast potential for [[wisdom]]. A buddha is one who has brought a final end to [[suffering]] and frustration and discovered a lasting and deathless happiness and peace. | '''Buddha''' [Skt.] - ''Sangyé'' [Tib.], usually refers to [[Shakyamuni Buddha]], the Indian prince Gautama Siddhartha, who reached [[enlightenment]] in the sixth century B.C., and who taught the spiritual path followed by millions all over Asia, known today as Buddhism. Buddha, however, also has a much deeper meaning. It means anyone who has completely awakened from [[ignorance]] and opened to his or her vast potential for [[wisdom]]. A buddha is one who has brought a final end to [[suffering]] and frustration and discovered a lasting and deathless happiness and peace. | ||
The Tibetan term for Buddha, ''Sangyé'', is explained as follows. | |||
''Sang'' means ‘awakening’ from the sleep of ignorance, and ‘purifying’ the darkness of both [[emotional obscurations]] and [[cognitive obscurations]]. | |||
''Gyé'' means ‘opening’, like a blossoming lotus flower, to all that is knowable, and ‘developing’ the [[wisdom of omniscience]]—the knowledge of the true nature of things, just as they are, and the | |||
knowledge of all things in their multiplicity. | |||
===Eight Qualities of the Buddha=== | ===Eight Qualities of the Buddha=== | ||
The qualities of the Buddha are immeasurable. Yet according to [[Maitreya]]'s ''[[Uttaratantra Shastra]]'', they can be condensed in eight qualities of the two-fold benefit of self and others: | |||
Benefit of self:<br> | Benefit of self:<br> | ||
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Benefit of others:<br> | Benefit of others:<br> | ||
4) | 4) Knowledge<br> | ||
5) | 5) Love<br> | ||
6) | 6) Power<br> | ||
And 7) the benefit of self | And 7) the benefit of self and 8) the benefit of others. | ||
[[Category:Key Terms]] | [[Category:Key Terms]] | ||
Revision as of 02:30, 16 March 2007
Buddha [Skt.] - Sangyé [Tib.], usually refers to Shakyamuni Buddha, the Indian prince Gautama Siddhartha, who reached enlightenment in the sixth century B.C., and who taught the spiritual path followed by millions all over Asia, known today as Buddhism. Buddha, however, also has a much deeper meaning. It means anyone who has completely awakened from ignorance and opened to his or her vast potential for wisdom. A buddha is one who has brought a final end to suffering and frustration and discovered a lasting and deathless happiness and peace.
The Tibetan term for Buddha, Sangyé, is explained as follows.
Sang means ‘awakening’ from the sleep of ignorance, and ‘purifying’ the darkness of both emotional obscurations and cognitive obscurations. Gyé means ‘opening’, like a blossoming lotus flower, to all that is knowable, and ‘developing’ the wisdom of omniscience—the knowledge of the true nature of things, just as they are, and the knowledge of all things in their multiplicity.
Eight Qualities of the Buddha
The qualities of the Buddha are immeasurable. Yet according to Maitreya's Uttaratantra Shastra, they can be condensed in eight qualities of the two-fold benefit of self and others:
Benefit of self:
1) Self-arisen wisdom
2) Unconditioned body
3) Spontaneously perfect
Benefit of others:
4) Knowledge
5) Love
6) Power
And 7) the benefit of self and 8) the benefit of others.