Buddhaverse Podcast Episode 7: What Is a Buddha? pt. 1
The Buddha may be the single most influential figure in human history, and also the most misunderstood, or misinterpreted. When he attained "Buddhahood," the course of history changed forever, but what did it mean when he announced to the world, "I Am Awake?" The legacy he left in his wake is one of the major religions of the world, know today as "Buddhism" but he did not teach a belief system, nor a philosophy, and not exactly a science. What he taught was how to deliver one's self and others from suffering through education, reflection, and meditation. Let's take a look at this magnanimous artist formerly known as Siddhartha, and what it means to be a Buddha. This is part one of a two part series, and in this episode we’ll cover the Therevada perspective on what a Buddha is, his physical hallmarks, his qualities, and the Ten Powers of a Tathagata by pulling selected readings from Buddhaghosa’s Vissudhimagga (Path of Purification) and the Pali Canon. In part 2 we'll answer this question from the Mahayana Buddhist perspective.
Buddhaghosa’s Vissudhimagga - https://www.urbandharma.org/udharma14/pathpure.html
Pali Canon - https://www.accesstoinsight.org/
Lalitavistara Sutra (Life of the Buddha) - https://aryanthought.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/lalitavistara-sutra.pdf
Avatamsaka Sutra (Flower Garland Sutra) - http://zen-ua.org/wp-content/uploads/avatamsaka-cleary.pdf
Murti of the Shakyamuni Buddha
Worlds largest Jade Buddha statue at the Great Stupa of Bendingo, Australia
PBS Documentary on the Life of the Buddha. Very good documentary (must watch)*
Lama Alan Wallace gives a teaching on what happened the night the Buddha became the Buddha
The Mahacharya Robert Thurman gives a teaching on the Therevada tradition
1977 BBC Documentary on the Sri Lankan Therevada tradition
The Bodhisatta bowing at the feet of Dipamkara Buddha
Shakyan Janapada, the coinage of the Shakyan empire. source: http://coinindia.com/galleries-shakya.html
Shakyan Republic that Siddhartha was born into. source: https://charleslefroy.wordpress.com/2015/12/19/shakya-caste/
Birth of the Buddha to Queen Maya in the Lumbini Garden
Siddhartha encountering the 4 sights the lead him to leave the palace to become enlightened.
The emaciated Siddhartha while practicing austerities
Siddhartha being tempted by Mara’s daughters
Siddhartha being threatened by Mara’s army of demons
Buddha realizing Anuttarasamyaksambodhi
A descendent of the Bodhi Tree (ficus religiosa) at Bodhgaya, the Vajrasana or seat of Awakening
The first Turning of the Wheel at the Deer Park, Varanasi
Tibetan image of Shakyamuni with his two chief disciples, Shariputra, and Mahamodgalyayana
Japanese painting of scene of Buddha’s Mahaparinirvana, or Great Complete Nirvana
The Three Baskets of teachings from Buddha Shakyamuni by Ajahn Jayassaro
The Great Elder of Thailand Ajahn Chah Documentary
Ajahn Jayassaro speaks about his teacher Ajahn Chah ability to read minds
Chan Master Shen Yeng speaks about the reality of supernormal abilities of great masters
The Buddha Dordenma is located atop a hill in Kuenselphodrang Nature Park and overlooks the Southern entrance to Thimphu Valley, Bhutan.