Hari
OM
Story-day is for cultural exploration, puraanas and
parables and finding out about leading lights in spiritual philosophy.
The
Buddha, often with 'the' being dropped, was a Hindu prince (Gautama) who
practiced ascetic saadhanas such as are laid out in the Upanishads; he was also
born with the blessed gift of having lived sufficient lives to be in the one
life where Moksha (liberation - Nirvaana in Tibetan) would be his. In his
Realised state, he gave out teachings… consequently those who revered him as
Guru, over time, deified him. All within that branch of faith practice who
attain 'jivanmukti' (salvation whilst living) are referred to as buddhas
(lower-case) or bodhisattvas; for the term itself simply means 'one whose mind
is freed' = 'enlightened one'. Here are some excerpts of teachings from
Buddhism (to read the full text click here.)
Verses On The Perfection Of
Wisdom
Prajnaparamita Ratnagunasamcayagatha
"Call
forth as much as you can of love, of respect and of faith!
Remove the
obstructing defilements, and clear away all your taints!
Listen to
the Perfect Wisdom of the gentle Buddhas,
Taught for
the weal of the world, for heroic spirits intended!
What exists not, that non-existent the foolish imagine;
Non-existence as well as existence they fashion.
As dharmic facts existence and non-existence are both not real.
A bodhisattva goes forth when wisely he knows this.
Forms are not wisdom, nor is wisdom found in form,
In consciousness, perceptions, feeling, or in will.
They are not wisdom, and no wisdom is in them.
Like space it is, without a break or crack.
They do not want fame, their hearts are not overcome by anger.
As householders they remain constantly unattached to their entire
property.
They do not seek to earn their livelihood in the wrong way,
Through bewitchment-spells, or the spells which are the work of
women.
