Where’s a Buddha?
Generally speaking, when we say “the Buddha”, the term refers to the founder of Buddhism, namely Siddhārtha Gautama. He is Gautama is The definition of “buddha” is explained in Wikipedia and other online stuff nowadays, but I had gotten it all wrong before starting practicing Buddhism thirty years ago. I used to think there was the only one supreme existence that created, ruled, and control the entire universe, which transpired to be an inappropriate interpretation. And even more astounding was the concept that anyone can become a buddha — yes, anyone like you and me — or we all have buddha nature, the potential to become one. In a nutshell, Buddhism is all about the method to attain that goal, about the path leading to that potential. Therefore, there’s no such thing as the creator in Buddhism cosmology. Buddhas didn’t create the universe, it was just there, probably before and after the emergence of any buddhas. Now I believe that Buddhism simply doesn’t care about how the world began, by whom and when. It instead focuses on how humans (as well as all living things) can become free from all kinds of spiritual pains, attachments, delusions, or any negative phenomena to eventually become an awakened one. Then, are buddhas human or living things? I would say “yes” and “no”. It may all depend on your perception. There’s another key concept taught in the dharma I practice: Buddhas are eternal; free from life and death. They are always there and even very close to us, then and now and in future. Of course, it doesn’t mean Gautama is still alive in this world after over two millennia, but his buddha essence (or buddhahood) is timeless and beyond any physical and material limits. The term “buddha” here refers to such buddha nature, and since it’s free from any boundaries, it can exist anywhere and even take any form of life. So where’s a buddha? In gold-plated Buddha images? Old and valuable world- or national-heritage-class artworks? Or rock-cut statues in caves? Probably yes. Or probably no. Because buddhas (or buddha essence) exist anywhere, but Buddhism is not idol worship (let’s talk about this topic on this page). I’d rather believe a “buddha” that’s closest to us is buddhahood inside us, as the dormant potential to become one. In that sense, one way to free ourselves from negative karmic hindrances to maximize our life’s potential is to wake up a sleeping buddha in ourselves. (N.S.) |