||Aum Sri Ramakrishna Sharanam||
||Aum Namo Narayanaya||
| Lord Buddha(Google Images) |
The dominance of Winter is quite prevalent in the way
our activities seem to take an indoor approach. Gathering cosily under the
blanket in front of the television or reading a book over a hot cup of coffee
seems more comforting and satisfying than strolling the arcades of shopping
malls or even meeting friends or family for a meal outing. But, nothing
can claim first prize away from a snug afternoon nap. However, we will show
utter dissent at these in a few months when Summer shows resolute intent to
govern us. Our lives are so easily influenced and shaped by the external that
we rarely find the opportunity to project our inner being or self.
I found much resonance in this idea when I read the
life of the Buddha. Born a Prince, nestled in the lap of luxury, he enjoyed
every conceivable pleasure that wealth could bring until when on a few
occasions after leaving the confines of his palace -which he never did for 30
years of his life- came face to face with the realities of life: such as death,
disease and old age... which instantly shifted his balance and warranted an
enquiry about the suffering of life. It dawned on him that all he had enjoyed
had a definite life span and even his body shall degrade and perish. How then
can all the pleasure and joy that entertained him be sustained?
Being plagued by this question to such an extent, he
decided to abandon his family and undertake a life in the opposite extreme of
his opulence... in search of the truth. At the juncture of this quest, he was
tempted by Mara (a metaphor for
worldliness and desire) to remain in the palace and enjoy the life of royalty
and power that was destined for him. Overwhelmed with determination and the
quest to resolve his quandary, he shaved his head, adorned the ochre robe of a
renunciate and strode through the forests as a beggar.
In the forest, he came under the tutelage of many a
Guru who taught him the science of Yoga, and under their guidance underwent
severe austerities almost to the point of death... upon which he realised that
all these external and physical techniques had not even attempted to resolve
his primary question for which he had abandoned his princely life. Immediately,
he accepted food from a well wisher and nursed his body to health, proclaiming
that the body and the world were essential components to attain his answer. He
then sat under a bodhi tree with
determination never to arise until he had attained supreme knowledge. Siddarta
Gautama was successful in his quest and emerged out of this meditation as the
Buddha.
In the life of Buddha we learn that the two key
components to realise the truth are sacrifice and suffering. In order to gain
one thing one has to lose something. It was after six years of severe struggle
that he eventually attained enlightenment.
What we need to understand is that within each and
every one of us is a seed of the Buddha. Every person has potential to become
the Buddha. What is the Buddha? It is a state of being where one realises that
we are not separate from the world, that the welfare of the world is the
welfare of the self. It is the ability to experience the highest peace of mind
when confronted by any situation.
He gave the
four noble truths of life:
1. Life is
suffering: we will never be satisfied with anything, hence we shall always
suffer.
2. There a
definite way to end this suffering, and that is to remove the cause.
3. The cause
of the suffering is the mind. Bring the mind to peace and all suffering will
end.
4.
Find the path: extreme opulence or extreme austerities shall not bring peace.
Find the middle way. Live a life of divinity.
Once a Brahmin was walking past and saw Buddha seated
in meditation nearby. His curiosity made him approach and enquire who He was.
Buddha, with a smile on his face announced: “Know that I am the awakened one”.
The life of Buddha is nothing but Vedanta.
Swami Vivekananda said:
Buddha was a great
Vedantist and Shankara is often called a hidden
Buddhist. Buddha made the analysis and Shankara made the synthesis out
of it. Buddha never bowed down to anything - neither Veda, nor caste, nor Priest,
nor custom. He fearlessly reasoned so far as reason could take Him. Such a
fearless search for truth and such love for every living thing the world has
ever seen. Buddha was the ‘Washington of the religious world’… He conquered
a throne only to give it to the world… as Washington did to the American
people. He sought nothing for himself.
Look at Buddha’s
heart! Ever-ready to give His own life to save the life of even a kid—what to
speak of “bahujana hitāya bhahujana sukhāya—for the welfare of the
many, for the happiness of the many”! See, what a large-heartedness—what a
compassion! … What was there in this country before Buddha’s advent? Only a
number of religious principles recorded on bundles of palm leaves—and
those too known only to a few. It was Lord Buddha who brought them down to the
practical field and showed how to apply them in the everyday life of the people.
In a sense, He was the living embodiment of true Vedanta.
On the 25th of May, devotes all over the world will
celebrate Buddha Purnima. It is referred
to as the Thrice Blessed Day because
it is said that Buddha was born, attained enlightenment and gained Maha Samadhi on this day. This very
symbolic occurrence tells us that we to in this very life have the potential to
enjoy the world, attain nirvana and
remove ourselves from the cycle of suffering.
May the grace and blessings of Lord Buddha be our inspiration to
strive towards enlightenment, is my sincere prayer.
With
love and prayers always
Yogan
www.sudarshanavidya.blogspot.com
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