After realizing the truth under the Bodhi tree on the night of the full moon, Shakyamuni Gautama Buddha was satisfied that he had achieved his goal. It’s important for readers to understand that ‘Bodhi’ means to awaken to the truth through personal experience, which can be achieved through deep meditation. While our physical eyes can only see external objects, a perceptive person can experience both the internal and external worlds. This heightened awareness is a special characteristic of enlightenment. It took Shakyamuni Gautama Buddha six years of intense practice to attain enlightenment.
According to the theory of biology, each human being has a unique mind, character, upbringing, society, and culture. As individuals, we all have desires, love, work, passion, infatuation, anger, hate, lust, and other egoic tendencies. Many Acharyas or Gurus suggest cutting desires, but doing so can lead to suffering or craving. Giving up on desires altogether can also prevent us from having a positive vision and being conscious and aware. Without these qualities, it’s difficult to work effectively. However, it’s important to learn how to manage desires and not add fuel to them unnecessarily. If we can let go of excessive desires and maintain a positive outlook, we can achieve happiness. This happiness can give us peace of mind and the energy to meditate. With deeper meditation, we can access a new level of knowledge, as Shakyamuni Gautama Buddha did when he attained four kinds of knowledge during his enlightenment.
1. Recall of past lives or Purvanusmriti:
Recall of past lives is called ‘Purvanusmriti’ in the Pali language. It’s the ability to recall one’s past lives and gain real knowledge about them. Through this process, one can remember who they were, what they did, and how they were born and died. The Mahajataka stories describe how Buddha had a thousand births and deaths, indicating that he had the ability to remember all his past lives.
2. The process of birth or Byutpati:
The process of birth is called ‘Byutpati’ in the Pali language. It’s related to the four noble truths in Buddhism, which consist of (1) Suffering. (2) The truth of suffering. (Cause and effect) (3) The measurement of suffering, and (4) The elimination of suffering. These four points represent the path to ultimate truth and the way to Nirvana, which means ‘extinction’ or ‘blowing out,’ refers to the state of release from suffering; the cycle of birth and death. It’s absolute zero or a state of liberation.
It’s important to understand and realize the four noble truths, it’s necessary to follow the eightfold path, which is considered the perfect way to attain the ultimate truth of Nirvana. The eightfold path includes (1) Right view. (2) Right intention. (3) Right speech. (4) Right action. (5) Right livelihood. (6) Right effort. (7) Right mindfulness, and (8) Right concentration. To be honest, renunciation is important in religion, asceticism is truth, the eightfold path is best practice, Panchashila is the best in morality, compassion is the best in emotions, humans is the best in animals, and Buddha is the best in human beings. This’s an excellent formula and is essential for all Buddhism believers to follow.
3. The wheel of life or Dependent of Origination:
The wheel of life or Dependent of Origination is called ‘Pratitya-Samutpada.” It’s a concept in Buddhism that emphasizes the idea of cause and effect. It’s derived from the Pali language and is made up of 12 interconnected stages: (1) Birth and death (Janma maran). (2) Lineage (Jati). (3) Existence (Bhava). (4) Clinging (Upadana). (5) Craving (Trishna). (6) Feeling (Vedana). (7) Touching (Sparsha). (8) Sense perception (Khadayatan, indriya), (9) Name and form (Nama rupa). (10) Consciousness (Bigyana). (11) Mental formations (Samskara). and (12) Ignorance (Avidya). Each stage depends on the one before it, and the cycle ends in ignorance. This state of ignorance is the ultimate transcendence or final state. It’s associated with darkness, formlessness, and a lack of experience. The state of ‘Samadhi,’ or deep concentration, is often associated with the ultimate truth of Nirvana.
4. The Divine vision (Bodhi Chakshu):
The term ‘Divine vision’ refers to a clear and unobstructed way of seeing things. It means having a correct and unbiased view without any discrimination based on religion, caste, group, sect, community, sex, or color. This vision should be clean and clean like a clean mirror that reflects an image clearly, whereas a stained or dusty mirror would obscure the reflection. If our perception is mistaken or obstructed, we cannot see reality clearly, and our view will be distorted. The Buddha emphasized that only the right vision can reveal the truth. After his enlightenment, Shakyamuni Buddha spent seven weeks in the vicinity of the Bodhi tree, reflecting on the Dharma and affirming it for himself.
During the seven weeks following his enlightenment, Shakyamuni Gautama Buddha spent a week in one location, reflecting on and affirming his newfound knowledge. These 49 days or seven weeks are considered very important in Buddhist literature because they mark a period of transition and endorsement, where the Buddha explained and analyzed his knowledge in seven different locations. This period is very auspicious, as it represents a transition from one state to another and an intermediate period of growth and transformation.
After completing his seven weeks of realization, Buddha used his divine vision to try to locate his former teachers who had taught him early in his journey. However, he discovered that they had already passed away. Buddha then turned his attention to the five ascetics known as the ‘Panchavargiya’ five classes monks, who had lived with him for long time, but had recently departed. He used his divine vision to locate them in the vicinity of Sarnath and decided that it was appropriate to preach his first sermon to them. He traveled from Uruvela to Sarnath to deliver his 1st sermon.
On his way to Sarnath, he met a nobleman, Upak. He was a monk of Ajivaka sect. He asked, wondering at the Buddha’s nature.
Addressing the monk, Upak said, ‘In such a peaceful and pure environment, one can see things with great clarity. May I know who you are and what you seek? Which religion do you follow, and who are your teachers, Guru, Acharya, Upadhyaya, and Shasta? I’m also seeking knowledge and would like to know about your experiences. I’m also in search of knowledge as well, who is your Guru and which religion do you believe in?
‘I don’t follow any religion, Buddha replied.
I’ve traveled to many hermitages and learned from numerous teachers, but I didn’t find what I was seeking. It was only when I was alone and had my own experience that I gained the amazing knowledge of enlightenment and omniscience. Now I’ve no need to search for anything else or to understand anything more. I’ve understood everything that needs to be understood and have even eradicated the root of craving. I’ve renounced not only worldly possessions but also the ultimate renunciation. There’s no longer any lust in my heart, only pure and boundless compassion like the ocean, said Buddha. At the same time new monk Upak saw the divine light around Buddha’s head, he was struck with amazement, like a snake transfixed.
Buddha once said, as I’ve attained it, you can also attain it, for ‘everyone has a consciousness, in which the Buddha resides.’ The same consciousness is within you, and the essence of the wisdom that I’ve received doesn’t reside in “scriptures, words, or principles,” but it’s in your own consciousness. You’re a temple, and the divine dwells within it. It should be recognized and awakened, and from that, amazing wisdom will emerge. This is the ultimate truth that I’ve attained, Buddha repeated. This conversation was made on the way to Sarnath between the Buddha and Upak.
As a new monk, Upak couldn’t understand the essence of Buddha’s teachings. It wasn’t easy for the new monk and or first-time hearing. Consequently, Upak was confused, but didn’t say anything further.
Buddha realized that it wasn’t appropriate to say more, so he quickly departed towards Sarnath, where his primary goal was to preach his 1st sermon to the ‘five classes of monks.’ He continued his journey towards that destination. To be continued…
Please visit here, you may like it:
1st Sermon by Shakyamuni Gautama Buddha:
2567th Anniversary of Buddha Festival:
Dear Sangha ladies and gentlemen, Namaste.
My name is DB Gurung, Nepali diaspora, Lama heredity, and scholar for over a decade. As I studied and realized during my studies, there’re both spiritualism and materialism in the doctrine. We can’t understand both at the same time. Do you perceive Buddhism as a religion or as an art of living? Do you know the real difference between religion and the art of living? I believe that everyone must learn to survive on their own, regardless of their profession or level.
In my belief, Buddhism is a cosmology, and ‘enlightenment’ is the eternal light in the subconscious mind. The subconscious is defined as the actions and reactions we experience when we think about it. When it blossoms, darkness disappears by itself. Many venerable are ready to bloom, but none have echoed yet. A sharp question always arises: “Is Buddhism for the benefit of the community, or is the community for the benefit of Buddhism?” What is the correct answer? Community or Buddhism? If community is the correct answer, we need to practice it according to the timeline and our needs. Today, we’re in the early third decade of the 21st century, and we must work with high technology to meet our daily needs.
Believe it or not, this’s reality. To be honest, I practice Buddhism as an ‘art of living’ to meet the demands of my daily life. I’ve limited desires and am always content, finding everything simple, easy, wonderful, and marvelous. Do you agree with me? If yes, let’s work together to build our prosperous community through the digital system. This’s the main reason why I’ve shared my personal experience on the topic of “Realization of Shakyamuni Siddhartha Gautama.” Are there any missing points in this chapter? How do you like it? If you find it interesting, please share it with your friends. Your valuable comments would be highly appreciated to upgrade this article. Thank you.
