The Buddha

A discussion on all aspects of Theravāda Buddhism
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Ceisiwr
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Location: Wales

The Buddha

Post by Ceisiwr »

When reflecting on the qualities of the Buddha I always wish that I could have met him. Does anyone else here wish they could have met the Buddha, even just once?
“Knowing that this body is just like foam,
understanding it has the nature of a mirage,
cutting off Māra’s flower-tipped arrows,
one should go beyond the King of Death’s sight.”
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Sam Vara
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Re: The Buddha

Post by Sam Vara »

Yes, but only out of curiosity. To see what his physical appearance was like. I don't think merely meeting him would have helped at all:
"For a long time, Lord, I have wanted to come and set eyes on the Blessed One, but I had not the strength in this body to come and see the Blessed One."

"Enough, Vakkali! What is there to see in this vile body? He who sees Dhamma, Vakkali, sees me; he who sees me sees Dhamma. Truly seeing Dhamma, one sees me; seeing me one sees Dhamma.
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .wlsh.html

Even in meeting the Buddha, it was apparently possible to not know that he was in fact the Buddha; this is what happened to Bhaggava in MN 140.
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html
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aflatun
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Re: The Buddha

Post by aflatun »

clw_uk wrote:When reflecting on the qualities of the Buddha I always wish that I could have met him. Does anyone else here wish they could have met the Buddha, even just once?
Is this even a question ? :shock:

Yes totally, met him, followed him around like a puppy, all that :tongue:
"People often get too quick to say 'there's no self. There's no self...no self...no self.' There is self, there is focal point, its not yours. That's what not self is."

Ninoslav Ñāṇamoli
Senses and the Thought-1, 42:53

"Those who create constructs about the Buddha,
Who is beyond construction and without exhaustion,
Are thereby damaged by their constructs;
They fail to see the Thus-Gone.

That which is the nature of the Thus-Gone
Is also the nature of this world.
There is no nature of the Thus-Gone.
There is no nature of the world."

Nagarjuna
MMK XXII.15-16
SarathW
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Re: The Buddha

Post by SarathW »

It is good to meet the Buddha.
The problem is I am not sure what that will do to me in attaining Nibbana.
Ven. Ananda was living with Buddha for very long time but he became an Arahant after Buddhas parinirvana.
A person like Devadatta had so many powers but could not realise Nibbana.
I think when we see Dharma we see Buddha.
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
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Lucas Oliveira
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Re: The Buddha

Post by Lucas Oliveira »

Itivuttaka: The Buddha’s Sayings
The Section of the Threes

92. The Hem of the Robe

This was said by the Lord…

“Bhikkhus, even though a bhikkhu might hold on to the hem of my robe and follow close behind me step by step, if he is covetous for objects of desire, strongly passionate, malevolent, corrupt in thought, unmindful, uncomprehending, unconcentra­ted, of wandering mind and uncontrolled faculties, he is far from me and I am far from him. What is the reason? That bhikkhu does not see Dhamma. Not seeing Dhamma, he does not see me.

“Bhikkhus, even though a bhikkhu might live a hundred leagues away, if he is not covetous for objects of desire, not strongly passionate, not malevolent, uncorrupt in thought, with mindfulness established, clearly comprehending, concentrated, of unified mind and controlled faculties, he is close to me and I am close to him. What is the reason? That bhikkhu sees Dhamma. Seeing Dhamma, he sees me.”

Though closely following behind,
Full of longings and resentment,
See how far away he is—
The desirous one from the desireless,
One unquenched from the quenched,
A greedy one from the one without greed.

But a wise person who by direct knowledge
Has fully understood the Dhamma,
Becomes desireless and tranquil
Like a calm unruffled lake.

See how close he is to him—
A desireless one to the desireless,
One quenched to the quenched,
The greedless one to the one without greed.

https://suttacentral.net/en/iti92



:anjali:
I participate in this forum using Google Translator. http://translate.google.com.br

http://www.acessoaoinsight.net/
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SDC
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Re: The Buddha

Post by SDC »

Dialogue between Nicolas and santa100 moved here by request:https://dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?f ... 4&start=20
“Life is swept along, short is the life span; no shelters exist for one who has reached old age. Seeing clearly this danger in death, a seeker of peace should drop the world’s bait.” SN 1.3
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