Buddha Purnima

Buddha Jayanti or Buddha Poornima (also known as his day of enlightenment) marks the birth of the Prince Siddhartha Gautama, later the Gautama Buddha, who was the founder of Buddhism.

Gautama Buddha, born c. 563–483 BCE in Lumbini (now in Nepal) and raised in the Shakya capital of Kapilavastu. Buddha was a Śramaṇa: one who labours, toils, or exerts themselves for some higher or religious purpose or the seeker who performs acts of austerity, ascetic.

He is regarded as the founder of the world religion of Buddhism, and revered by most Buddhist schools as a savior, the Enlightened One who rediscovered an ancient path to release clinging and craving and escape the cycle of birth and rebirth. He taught for around 45 years and trained around 5000 disciplines/ devotees and built a large following, both monastic and lay.

His teaching is based on his insight into the arising of duḥkha (the unsatisfactoriness of clinging to impermanent states and things) and the ending of duhkha—the state called Nibbāna or Nirvana the extinguishing of the three fires i.e. Moha (delusion, confusion), Raga (greed, sensual attachment), and Dvesha (aversion, hate).

The Buddha's teaching of karma differed to that of the Jains and Brahmins, in that on his view, karma is primarily mental intention (as opposed to mainly physical action or ritual acts). The Buddha is reported to have said "By karma I mean intention."

Buddha was also often refers to himself as Tathāgata, possibly referring to his transcendental nature of spiritual attainment.

The following are a common list of epithets are commonly seen together in the canonical texts, and depict some of his spiritual qualities:

• Sammasambuddho – Perfectly self-awakened

• Vijja-carana-sampano – Endowed with higher knowledge and ideal conduct.

• Sugata – Well-gone or Well-spoken.

• Lokavidu – Knower of the many worlds.

• Anuttaro Purisa-damma-sarathi – Unexcelled trainer of untrained people.

• Satthadeva-Manussanam – Teacher of gods and humans.

• Bhagavato – The Blessed one

• Araham – Worthy of homage.

An Arahant is "one with taints destroyed, who has lived the holy life, done what had to be done, laid down the burden, reached the true goal, destroyed the fetters of being, and is completely liberated through final knowledge.”

With Best Wishes,

Dr. T. P. Singh

(त्रिभुवन सिंह)

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