This seemingly simple question was given to us as a topic for reflection and with the invitation to try our hands with a little write-up at the end of Düntsam 2.
Some results, long and short, attempts at definitions, a meditation prayer, some rather personal reflections and some of a more philosophical nature, were courageously offered to be shared. Like a kaleidoscope they reflect the multitude of approaches that are the richness of a diverse community. So we are presenting these thoughts to you unfiltered.
Diese scheinbare einfache Frage wurde uns am Ende des Düntsam 2 als Thema mitgegeben mit der Einladung, darüber zu reflektieren und ein paar Gedanken dazu zu Papier zu bringen. Einige Ergebnisse, lang und kurz, Definitionsversuche, ein Meditationsgebet, einige eher persönliche Reflektionen und einige, die eher philosophischer Natur sind, wurden mutig zur Veröffentlichung dargeboten. Wie ein Kaleidoskop reflektieren sie eine Vielzahl von Ansätzen, die den Reichtum einer vielfältigen Gemeinschaft ausmachen. Daher präsentieren wir euch diese Gedanken ungefiltert.
Buddha has offered all sentient beings the opportunity for understanding the concept of impermanence. This gift is like a torch in the darkness.
Marc
Buddha ist reines klares Bewusstsein, reine Liebe, ohne jegliches Konzept – ohne Anfang ohne Ende.
Buddha is pure awareness, pure love, without any concept – no beginning, no end.
Hildegard
Buddha is recognition of our wholeness, our oldest, fundamental nature. That which is and which always has been.
Izabela
The Buddha is a state here and now. The Victorious Ones: we are one
Appearance and disappearance, you and me, time, space, names, sounds, flavors, weight, thoughts, feelings…
It’s just a dance of possibilities – a countless stream of manifestations of the mind. So fast – here and now!
How to express that we are one in every phenomena? Buddhahood is a state beyond any concepts.
In this state we are „one“.
But when we use such words as „One“ or „Unity“, the words imply that there is also the opposite, so the word has its own duality: there would be no need of speaking about Unity if the Multiplicity was not existing.
This goes to show, once more, how inadequate words can be.
Hanna
Buddha is the ultimate peace for us. Every time when we look at the image or statue of the Buddha, we experience tremendous peace. We also feel a lot of trust and confidence in all the forms of enlightened ones. One can say that it feels like coming home after a long journey or finding the answer to a life long pursuit. This is how we felt when we visited the Lumbini grove for the first time. This is also how we feel every time when we see Karmapa. Most likely we might feel the same, nothing more, even if we met the historical Buddha, Shakyamuni. After passing through several intersections of life, we finally feel like we have come to our home. Thank you, the source of our refuge, the Three Jewels.
Mario & Kirsten
At the age of 29 Buddha Shakyamuni left his family, his son shortly after his birth, his homeland and renounced a prosperous life. I think he did this because he realized that he would not be able to truly help the beings in their suffering for the rest of his live.
I can not really help anyone in samsara either, I’ve heard of the Dharma and met wise teachers… and yet I’m still not honestly on the dharma-way. I wish I had only 1% of his devotion.
Karma Trinley
Thinking of the Buddha
Oh perfect, precious Buddha
We bow down before you
Your appearance is so glorious and presents all the favorable qualities
The bright clear light, radiating from you, permeates the darkness of ignorance
All your actions are highly virtuous
You completed the accumulations of merit and wisdom
Oh perfect, precious Buddha
We bow down before you
With such great compassion you turn the wheel of the Dharma
You help all your disciples to conquer their illusory world
The lovely timbre of your voice sets every single component into vibration
Thus your profound teachings go straight to the heart and open it like petals of a lotus blossom
O perfect, precious Buddha
You are so wonderful
It would be utterly foolish to believe we could hold the familiar control,
All of a sudden the veils of facade tumble down
Only through you we learn to see
Only through you we learn to understand
The longing to be united with you and never be separated from you again is so overwhelming
You are the light
You are the path
You are the aim
Oh perfect, precious Buddha
We bow down before you.
Yeshe Palmo
Buddha
Unendliches grenzenloses allumfassendes Mitgefühl,
unendliche grenzenlose Weisheit,
jenseits von Begrifflichkeit,
unendliche bedingungslose Liebe,
unendliche Güte.
Frei von allem Greifen und Konzepten, Anhaften und Ablehnen
Wegweiser und Ermutiger auf dem Pfad zur Befreiung
Spiegel unserer eigenen innewohnenden Buddha-Natur
Die höchste Zuflucht
Samten Chödrön
Buddha
In his immeasurable kindness,
Gave us the teachings,
Showed us the path.
Now it’s up to me…
And I will walk…
Thank you, Sabchu Rinpoché, for being my guide.
Gesine
Buddha is our potential. So we should, as it is said „not be alarmed when we attain the mind of the great liberating perfection of insight.“ I think this is worth highlighting: We have to be prepared to face it all when we walk this path of ultimate compassion.
Yeshe Drölma
Boundless,
Ultimate,
Deep,
Developed,
Helpful,
Awakened.
Pema Dechen
Buddha, the perfect teacher who saw the reality for what it is.
Pema Kandro