Buddha's wisdom

Author: Chen Bing
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: As a historical figure, Buddha holds unparalleled reverence and admiration among influential world philosophers. During his lifetime, he was revered as a teacher by multiple kings, and countless Buddhists regarded him as the most sacred, the guide, and the model, even viewing him as a superhuman or deity. In Mahayana Buddhism, Buddha is universally regarded as an all-powerful, omniscient, and eternal super deity, known as the "Golden Immortal of Great Enlightenment." People meticulously crafted Buddha statues from gold, silver, and jade to express their devout reverence for this idol in their hearts, thus creating many national treasures and high-end artworks. For over two thousand years, in Buddhist temples of all sizes around the world, amidst incense smoke or surrounded by fragrant flowers, Buddha statues have been worshipped by generations of devout followers. Buddha's remains and relics have become sacred Buddhist artifacts, encased in golden and jade sarcophagi adorned with gemstones, for veneration and offerings. The grand scenes of their processions and displays, where crowds gaze in awe and sorrow, are truly heart-stirring. Most ordinary Chinese people likely recognize Buddha primarily through the statues enshrined in the main halls of Buddhist temples and the image of Lord Buddha portrayed in Journey to the West, viewing him as a deity, unaware that he was indeed a real historical figure.
1. Brief Life of Buddha
Although the historical consciousness of ancient Indians was extremely weak, leaving little written record, Buddha's life is still well-documented, making his biographical records among his contemporaneous world leaders the most detailed. (English) Charles Eliot's Outlines of Indian and Buddhist History Volume says that Buddha's "strong personality left a more vivid image in Indian literature than any other teacher or king." In numerous Buddhist scriptures and the "Vinaya," which records the origins of Buddhist precepts, there are many self-descriptions of Buddha's life and records of his teachings. Buddhist classics that specifically narrate Buddha's life stories are called "Buddha's Life Literature," such as the Sutra of the's Meritorious Responses, the Sutra of the Prince's Practice, the Sutra of Past and Present Causes, and the Sutra of Buddha's Life. These texts were written several centuries after Buddha's death and were inevitably embellished by later generations. However, they originate from accounts of Buddha's time, and the narratives of his life, though not entirely free of discrepancies, generally follow a consistent outline.
Buddha was born in a small kingdom called Kapilavastu, at the southern foot of the Himalayas in ancient India, in what is now the southern part of Nepal (Piprava), a claim confirmed by archaeological discoveries. "Siddhartha" is his given name, meaning "the one who achieves everything," and "Gautama" is his clan name, meaning "the compassionate." "Muni" is a term used to describe those who attained enlightenment through ascetic practices in the wilderness. Buddha's family name was Gotama (also translated as Kucinta), and his given name was Siddhartha (meaning "all virtues accomplished"). Buddha is also often referred to as "Tathagata," meaning "one who has come to the truth" or "the embodiment of truth." During his time, ordinary people and followers of other religions generally called him "Sramana Gautama," meaning "the ascetic from the Gautama clan." Buddhists, however, revered him as the "Bhagavan," meaning "the Lord of the World."