2007-05-15 06:30:46 · 10 answers · asked by nanhowala 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Many excellent answers have come my way. Yet I expect more of them. Perahps no other question from me brought so many wonderful people together. Thanks. many, many thanks.
2007-05-16 04:51:21 · update #1
Anyone can become an "Awakened One" (i.e. Buddha) if you follow the Dharma which the Buddha taught in order to get there. The idea is not to take HIS word for it but come to the same conclusions yourself, hence you reap the benefits.
_()_
2007-05-15 06:34:14 · answer #1 · answered by vinslave 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
There are many schools in Buddhism and a few uses of the term Buddha.
The first refers to the prince, perhaps historical, who had the initial realizations that led to the philosophy/religion. To answer your question specifically, this Buddha was the first. In this cycle. He was already famous in his time, that probably helped him spread his ideas.
The second is based on reincarnation, the Buddha being reincarnated in each cycle of the universe. (Think of time as a giant circle that renews itself with every circuit.) So we get Gautama Buddha above, Maitreya to come, and so on.
Vinslave has explained the third well. It's an amazing bit of 'theology', well worth looking into.
2007-05-15 13:42:18 · answer #2 · answered by The angels have the phone box. 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Many have attained enlightenment he was only the historic Buddha (Buddha means the enlightened one)
2007-05-15 13:39:24 · answer #3 · answered by Freethinking Liberal 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Enlightenment is not something to attain... even Buddha said: "All beings are enlightened, they just don't know it."
You are already enlightened, so relax and enjoy life.
2007-05-15 13:36:41 · answer #4 · answered by Kai 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your question is itself the answer.
Buddha was lucky to be enlightened, and thus he is very famous.
But he is not at all the last person.
So many others are there who enlightened the truth.
2007-05-16 00:32:54 · answer #5 · answered by Shripathi Krishna Acharya 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
anyone who has broken out of the chains of degradation, shame, guilt, self-hatred, misery, hopelessness, and self-pity, along w/ any other form of oppressed self has been enlightened. even if he doesn't know it others do and can see it clearly. no one will ever be perfect but we can at least learn to live w/ourselves and all our shortcomings and still be happy , joyous and free. to attain this is to me enlightenment. we will never know everything that our masters know because they taught us everything we know, not everything they know. thus we must continue to be students of life and let experience be our best teacher.
2007-05-15 13:47:26 · answer #6 · answered by ton.y.c. 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
YOU ARE BUT LIGHT IN A HOUSE,SHINING OUT OF A HOUSE,YOUR PHYSCIAL BODY IS YOUR SOUL THE HOUSE AND THE SPIRIT LIVES AS THE LIGHT YOUR ARE INSIDE YOUR SOUL.MANY A LIGHT HAS GONE OUT AND MANY HAVE FALLEN INTO DARKNESS AND ARE ONLY LIVING IN THE FLESH,FOR ON THE DAY YOU COMMIT YOUR FIRST SIN,AS I WARNED YOU ,ON DAY YOU EAT OF THE TREE OF GOOD AND EVIL YOU DIE.IN THE LIGHT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND BECOME A UNCLEAN SPIRIT AND FACE THE SECOND DEATH
2007-05-15 17:57:22 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
no .there r so many people who attained jnanodaya and still live a simle life, without exposing themselves to publicity.
2007-05-16 06:02:31 · answer #8 · answered by dvkini 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Everything is enlightenment. "The great way is not hard, just stop views". [3rd zen patriarch] ~ : )
2007-05-15 23:54:12 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
it depends on what u think being enlightened means.
2007-05-15 13:39:07 · answer #10 · answered by FaceFullofFashion 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋