Buddhism
What is a Buddha: The Awakened One
· 7 min read
A guide to the concept of Buddha: the historical Buddha, the Buddha nature, past and future Buddhas, and Buddhahood.
Definition
A Buddha is a human being who has attained complete and perfect enlightenment.
The Historical Buddha
Siddhartha Gautama (ca. 563-483 BCE) is known as Shakyamuni Buddha.
The Three Bodies of the Buddha (Trikaya)
- Dharmakaya: the body of truth
- Sambhogakaya: the body of bliss
- Nirmanakaya: the physical body
The Buddhas of the Past and Future
The tradition mentions many Buddhas.
Maitreya (Future Buddha)
Maitreya is the next Buddha, currently residing in the Tusita heaven.
Buddhahood
Buddhahood is the ultimate nature of the mind.
The Five Paramitas of the Buddha
- Generosity
- Ethics
- Patience
- Energy
- Meditation
- Wisdom
The Buddha Amitabha (Pure Land)
Amitabha is a celestial Buddha who presides over the Pure Land (Sukhavati).
Sources
- The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism
- Edward Conze: Buddhist Thought in India
- Donald Lopez: The Buddha in the Robot
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