What is Buddha?

The word ‘Buddha’ simply means one who has 100% knowledge i.e. fully enlightened who discovers the path of nirvana. Like people who has obtained a doctorate (commonly PhD), one who has complete knowledge about everything can be considered as Buddha. Most of the people only have heard about one buddha i.e. Siddhartha Gautam Buddha but there are millions of buddha around various multi universe. According to the Buddhist tradition, buddha has a ruling period which mean Siddhartha Gautam has 5000 years of ruling period. It is believed that this world will forget the teachings of buddha completely and again next buddha will take a birth and help people to understand the absolute reality and end the sufferings forever. All the buddhas have their ruling period and process of giving teachings to sentient beings.

Before Siddhartha Gautam(present buddha), there is also buddha named Dipankara(past buddha) and buddhist tradition believes next buddha will be Maitreya(future buddha).

Siddhartha Gautama Buddha

This era is of Siddhartha Gautama (also shakyamuni) born into a wealthy family as a prince in present-day Lumbini, Nepal during the 6th century B.C. Although he had an easy life, Gautama was moved by suffering in the world. He decided to give up his lavish lifestyle. After six years of searching, Buddhists believe Gautama found enlightenment while meditating under a Bodhi tree. He spent the rest of his life teaching others about how to achieve this spiritual state. These all activities done by buddha is the act to show people way to get enlightened. Not only he taught us but also shown by action.

12 Acts of the buddha

The 12 acts are the twelve major activities of Lord Buddha:

1.    Descending from Tushita Heaven

2.    Entering into his mother’s womb

3.    Birth in the garden of Lumbini

4.    Training in the sciences

5.    Achievement in sports competition

6.    Enjoying the palace and marriage

7.    Renouncing the life of a prince

8.    Practicing austerity for six years, then renouncing that

9.    Obtaining victory over the Maras

10. Enlightenment under the bodhi tree

11. Turning the wheel of dharma

12. And passing into Parinirvana