Literature
The Spiritual Journey from Siddhartha to Buddha: Before and After Enlightenment
Seeking Truth Through Enlightenment: The Journey of Buddha
Deep in his search for truth, a seeker once sought to understand the life of Buddha. Having consulted various spiritual masters, he felt lost and confused by the differing theories such as Paticchassamuppada (dependent origination), the Four Noble Truths, Anitya (impermanence), and Samatha Bhavana (tranquility meditation), the seeker decided to meet Buddha as his final resort.
Meeting Buddha: The Unanswered Question
The seeker approached Buddha, tired and desperate for clarity. He asked Buddha to explain the theory of liberation succinctly. But instead of answering, Buddha maintained a silence, gazing at the seeker without words. After three attempts, the seeker, having reached his limit, left without finding the answer he sought.
Bhikkhu Ananda, a close associate of Buddha, was perplexed and inquired about Buddha's behavior. When asked, Buddha revealed that the seeker had indeed attained full liberation through this experience; he had reached a state of enlightenment through the power of direct contemplation.
“For a good horse, even a sound of a swaying wicker is enough to run and reach the final destination,” Buddha explained, suggesting that this seeker had already achieved his goal through the very act of seeking.
The Life of Siddhartha: Before Enlightenment
Before becoming Buddha, Siddhartha, the future enlightened one, was born into a life of luxury. Convinced that either he would become a Chakravarti King (a universal monarch) or a great sage, his father, King ?uddhodhana, took every precaution to ensure Siddhartha would become a king. Siddhartha was shielded from the harsh realities of life, including old age, sickness, and death.
Tired of his life’s illusions, Siddhartha ventured out one day. Witnessing an old man, a sick person, and a funeral, he realized that mortality and suffering were inevitable. This realization marked the beginning of his spiritual journey. He renounced his royal life, leaving behind all material attachments and setting out to discover the true nature of existence.
From Siddhartha to Buddha: The Path to Enlightenment
Siddhartha’s path to enlightenment was both arduous and transformative. Initially, he practiced intense asceticism, practiced extreme austerities, and endured great physical suffering. Through prolonged periods of meditation and fasting, he became a living skeleton, seeking to transcend pain and achieve enlightenment. However, he found no lasting peace in this extreme path.
The Middle Way: Feeling that his previous path was too extreme, Siddhartha adopted the Middle Way, a balanced approach. He started incorporating a moderate diet, such as khichdi, to restore his physical health without lapsing back into extravagance.
This led him to the hermit stage, a period marked by deep meditation and the relentless pursuit of inner peace. It was during this time that he faced numerous temptations, including an encounter with Mara, the demon king of desire. Despite the temptation for a return to luxurious living, Siddhartha remained steadfast, mastering his mind and free from external influence.
Conquering the Mind: Through extensive meditation, Siddhartha discovered that mental formations were the root of all suffering. His statement after becoming a Bodhisattva highlights this pivotal insight: “WASANA (thought forms) IS ROOT CAUSE OF ALL MISERY.”
Conquered by his own mind, Siddhartha's thoughts became his greatest ally. By focusing on his true self and transcendent nature, he achieved enlightenment, renouncing impermanence and suffering to become the enlightened Buddha.
Conclusion
The journey from Siddhartha to Buddha is a testament to the transformative power of true seeking and inner tranquility. This pathway of enlightenment, fraught with challenges and insights, ultimately led to a profound understanding of the human condition and the potential for liberation from suffering.
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