Buddhahood

For the historical founder of Buddhism, see The Buddha.
"Buddhas" redirects here. For other uses, see Buddha (disambiguation).
Buddha Shakyamuni, in Greco-Buddhist style, c. 1st–2nd century CE, Gandhara
A painting of the primordial Buddha, Vajradhara, of Tibetan Buddhism
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In Buddhism, Buddha (/ˈbuːdə, ˈbʊdə/, which in classic Indic languages means "awakened one")[1] is a title for those who are spiritually awake or enlightened, and have thus attained the supreme goal of Buddhism, variously described as nirvana ("blowing out"), bodhi (awakening, enlightenment), and liberation (vimutti, vimoksa). A Buddha is also someone who fully understands the Dharma, the true nature of all things or phenomena (dharmas), the ultimate truth. Buddhahood (Sanskrit: buddhatva; Pali: buddhatta or buddhabhāva; Chinese: 成佛) is the condition and state of a buddha.[2] This highest spiritual state of being is also termed sammā-sambodhi (Sanskrit: samyaksaṃbodhi; "full, complete awakening") and is interpreted in many different ways across schools of Buddhism.

The title of "Buddha" is most commonly used for Gautama Buddha, the historical founder of Buddhism, who is often simply known as "the Buddha". The title is also used for other beings who have achieved awakening and liberation (or vimoksha), such as the other human Buddhas who achieved enlightenment before Gautama; members of the Five Buddha Families such as Amitabha; and the bodhisattva Maitreya, known as the "Buddha of the future who will attain awakening at a future time."

In Theravada Buddhism, a Buddha is commonly understood as a being with the deepest spiritual wisdom about the nature of reality who has transcended rebirth and all suffering. He is also seen as having many miraculous and magical powers. However, a living Buddha has the limitations of a physical body, will feel pain, get old and die. In Mahayana Buddhism however, a Buddha is considered to be a transcendent being, who is all-knowing, immeasurably powerful, with an eternal lifespan. His wisdom light is said to pervade the cosmos, and his great compassion and skillful means are limitless. This transcendent being is not understood as having a normal physical human body, instead, Mahayana defends a kind of docetism, in which the Buddha's life on earth (as Shakyamuni) was a magical display which only appeared to have a human body.

A being who is on the path to become a Buddha is called a bodhisattva. In Mahayana Buddhism, Buddhahood is the universal goal and all Mahayanists ultimately aim at becoming a Buddhain in order to benefit and liberate all sentient beings.[3] Thus, Buddhahood is the goal for all the various spiritual paths found in the various Mahayana traditions (including Vajrayana, Zen, and Pure land). This contrasts with the common Theravada goal of individual liberation, or arhatship.[3]

  1. ^ Buswell 2004, p. 71.
  2. ^ buddhatva, बुद्धत्व. Spoken Sanskrit Dictionary Archived 2017-01-02 at the Wayback Machine. (accessed: January 10, 2016)
  3. ^ a b Gethin, Rupert (1998). The foundations of Buddhism (1st publ. paperback ed.). Oxford [England]: Oxford University Press. pp. 224–234. ISBN 0-19-289223-1.