The Buddha’s great qualities were immeasurable

by Ven. Prof. Bellanwila Wimalaratana Anunayaka Thera

The relevant details on Buddhism should be analysed and studied through the incidents woven around the great life of the Buddha or the Exalted One.

This information could be collected only by the ideas pertaining to the Great Men of Times; otherwise it is impossible. These men are well versed, truly firmly. They sprang from the bottom of their hearts. They are devoted full of faith, and believe the Buddha, His philosophy. The one who understands and realises Him is a true disciple of the Buddha. He resembles a symbol of supreme Enlightenment.

One of the greatest features of the Exalted One, is his undisturbed, clear mind. The Western scholars state, the Buddha is the only religious leader, philosopher who believed in the cause and effect – (Hethupalawada) of the world. He is also a Freethinker. His intellect, was amazing on any question raised by an individual. The Great Teacher answered, after analysing it simply and enlightened them. The Buddha explained it analysing its value and then answered in simple language.

Philosophy

Another important fact in the Buddhist philosophy is the blessings of compassion and kindheartedness of His great philosophy. The story tellers of Buddha’s character, highlighted the stories connected to Him as the Bodhisatva – Buddha a Aspirant, showing his moral character and sacrifices.

Once, the Bodhisatva saved the ‘deer clan’, when he was born as a Deer King. In another instance, when he was a hare, to satisfy the hunger of an ascetic, He jumped into the flame of fire. Even before He became the Enlightened one, compassion and kindness flowed from his heart. He empathised with everyone, to cease their suffering. Even after attainment of enlightenment the Buddha remained silent and then attracted everyone, transmitted his teaching and at times went in search of the needy one to enlighten them with the truth.

Royalty

Siddhartha Gautama Buddha hailed from royalty. The Indian society accepted Him with great respect.

The normal, average villager, commoners, kings respected, worshipped the Buddha. The Buddha never judged a person by his or her caste, creed, colour or religion. Not only kings, and royalty, He focused His attention on the downtrodden too. The Buddha valued the self-respect of all individuals and human beings. The Gautama Buddha discarded royal prestige. In one instance, after the rainy season, the Buddha questioned the bhikkhus what they were discussing prior to His arrival. Then Venerable Sariputta spoke thus:-

True

“Venerable Sir, there never will be a great personality of your calibre – Great Buddha?”

“Sariputta, do you know about all the past Buddhas?”
“No Sir,”
“Do you know about all the future Buddhas?”
“No Sir.”
“In that case, at least do you know about me? Did you not analyse my mind?”
“No, Venerable Exalted One.”
“Then, Sariputta, your words are not firm, truthful or brave,” stated The Exalted One.

The Buddha’s words were true and firm. He never wanted to be an unseen God. The Buddha never wanted His feelings – shortcomings, to be lowered.

The Buddha’s leadership is seen not only in his social development, but by the Buddhist Order. It shows clearly by a code of disciplined conduct for bhikkhus. At a bhikkhu meeting, held on a Full Moon Poya day, a king once questioned, “Venerable Sir, is there special technique you adopt towards the bhikkhus? In a congregation of 1,250 bhikkhus, there is not a sound even of a cough. There is pin drop silence everywhere, although there are many bhikkhus in the assembly. This shows the discipline you maintain.

The Buddha had an astonishing insight surpassing nature. He always understood the truth. One of the examples was the story of a scavenger who removed the withered flowers and garbage.

Caste

When Sunitha was turning the dustbins to find something to eat, the Buddha visited him. Sunitha was excited.

With due regard and honour, Sunitha folded his arms and worshipped the Exalted One, who possessed ‘deathlessness’.

Like a lamp in a pipeline, the Buddha saw Sunitha’s deathless qualities. The Buddha uttered thus – “do you realise the miserable state of this life?”

“Venerable Sir, if there is an opening to allow a caste person like me, in your noble Order, I wish to be a disciple in your Order.”

Thus, Sunitha became an important popular figure in the Buddhist Order.

In the Buddha’s mind, he had a firm belief, to perform and act to satisfy the entire world. After the attainment of Enlightenment He witnessed, there are many whose eyes were eroded with dirt and dust and blind in their eyes. They were badly neglected and needed help and resistance.

There were no options for the Buddha. “I was born to the world for the benefit, betterment happiness of Gods and Humans. Thinking in this manner, firstly the Buddha went in search of religious men but it was of no avail. Then, he attained ‘deathlessness’ and transmitted the message of his philosophy / religion, to the hearts of Indians.

It should be remembered; he entered religious life by discarding his noble clan. He forgave and discarded all wealth hidden inside and outside the ground. Then He gave up his worldly life and lived an ascetic life.

There may have been a reason for the lack of understanding of the Buddha, by His disciples in the years gone by.

This may be due to the reason that bhikkhus lacked available reports. They thought, the Buddha’s great qualities were immeasurable and it’s so large, it cannot be defined.

Another reason was that they were under the impression that the language was not enough to describe the greatness of the Buddha.

They respected Him. They loved Him. At last they came to the conclusion - a Buddha can be correctly seen or be visible only by a Buddha himself.