Who Is The Buddha
“Who is the Buddha?” is a question, which is asked by many people who are new to Buddhism. Here is the typical answer: The Buddha was a prince named Siddhattha and his clan name is Gotama. He was born in the 6th century BC and was a spiritual teacher from ancient India who founded Buddhism. In most Buddhist traditions, he is regarded as the Supreme Buddha, or teacher of our age, The Buddha literally means "awakened one", or "the enlightened one."
Usually this is followed by the question: “Is it possible to become a Buddha?” The answer is either ‘yes’, or ‘no’. Yes, if we learn and practice his teachings. No, if we don’t learn and practice his teachings. From this answer you can see that everything is possible through education and practice. There is a Zen story which illustrates this well. Here is the story:
There was once a man who had profound faith in the teachings of the Buddha. He went to see the Zen Master named Weiylang with the intention of studying Dhamma under him. When he arrived, Master Weiylang asked him, “Where do you come from?” He answered, “I come from nowhere, sir.” The Master Weiylang became interested in his answer and asked him another question, “What do you do for living?” He replied, “I don’t remember. I have given up working, sir.” Then the Master Weiylang asked him, “Why do you come here?” He replied, “In here is a school of life. Out there is full of desires greed, hatred and ignorance, so I have come here to be your student. I want to study under your guidance.”
The Master Weiylang saw his good intention and dedication and so accepted him as his student. When he studied and practiced Dhamma, the Master tested him from time to time to be assured that he could understand the teachings. Here is a conversation between the Master and the student:
The student asked his Master, “How can I become a Buddha?”
Master Weiylang answered, “Let go of desires, greed, hatred and ignorance.”
The student asked his Master again, “Desires are in the mind and body, how can I let them go? Do I have to let go of my mind and body?”
Master Weiylang replied, “No, you don’t have to leave your mind and body. You just observe them and their movement, or actions with having neither an opinion, nor judgment. Then you can realize them and become a knower.”
The student asked the Master, “Is that called the Buddha, Master?”
The Master said, “Yes, it is. Buddha means to realize all actions: mental, verbal and physical.”
This is an enlightened conversation, which conveys the meaning of the Buddha. To be a Buddha is to realize all actions. This realization is with neither opinion, nor judgment, and overcomes greed, hatred, and ignorance. And this realization will liberate living beings from all desires. When they liberate themselves from all desires, then they become a Buddha. This means that everyone can become the Buddha, if they can liberate themselves from desires.
Bear in mind that you can also become the Buddha.
