The Buddha’s Enlightenment,

Our Enlightenment in Today’s World

  Siddhartha, when he “came forth from the Palace of the Shakya clan, sitting at the training place of enlightenment not far from the city of Bodh Gaya” attained Perfect Enlightenment. Forty years later, preaching the Lotus Sutra, he asks, “how shall I cause all the living to enter the same way along with me and attain Perfect Enlightenment?”

  The story of Siddhartha attaining Perfect Enlightenment is a powerful guide to follow to attain that goal, for the Buddha and his teachings are with us now—here in the Lotus Sutra, as is the Buddha’s presence—not in some heavenly abode, but within us as the all-pervading life-force, the universal, eternal energy, causing everything to live. In today’s world, Perfect Enlightenment may be attained by those who celebrate this cause to live—life itself, and for  those with longing hearts who aspire to attain it, and the time is now.

From Shakyamuni Buddha, a Narrative Biography by Nikkyo Niwano:

  Although there is no way of determining the date now, according to Chinese and Japanese Buddhist tradition it was on the morning of December 8, just as the morning star appeared in the sky [this would be the planet Venus, also currently transiting, as morning star, or “giver of light”], when Siddhartha’s mind was as clear as the breaking day, that he at last attained Perfect Enlightenment. From that time on his ability to look at all things was different from that of ordinary people. He was able to perceive clearly the real state of all things, unhindered by superficial phenomena. He had gained the eyes of an enlightened one—of a buddha.

  Upon attaining enlightenment he said, “Wonderful! Wonderful! All living beings possess the wisdom and the virtuous sign of the Tathagata [the highest epithet of a buddha], but they do not realize this because of their attachment to desires and illusions.” / / / /

  In the film, “Little Buddha” the following exchange between Siddhartha and the mirror image of himself in the form of Mara, the evil one who has tempted Siddhartha, and has failed. Mara emerges from the mire and clutches Siddhartha’s arm:

MARA: You who will go where no one else has gone, will you be my guide?

SIDDHARTHA: Architect.

MARA: But you are my house, and you dwell in me.

SIDDHARTHA: Oh, Lord of my own Ego, you do not exist, you are pure illusion. The earth is my witness.

The face of Mara changes back to the evil one. He slowly vanishes.

 Lama Norbu describes the nature of Siddhartha’s enlightenment, dispelling all illusions, seeing beyond himself, no judgments, realizing there is no salvation without having compassion for all living beings . . . “and from that moment on, Siddhartha was called the Buddha, the Enlightened One.”

Niwano continues:

  When Shakyamuni looked on the world through the eyes of a buddha, he noticed that everything appeared completely changed. Animals, plants, and human beings all seemed bathed in such glory and brilliance that it was as if they were pervaded by the same life as the Buddha. His spontaneous “Wonderful! Wonderful!” was uttered out of his great joy at discovering the real state of all existence, immediately observing that the cause of all living beings suffering derived from their attachment to desires and illusions. / / / /

  Begin each day in meditation which instills the presence of the Buddha in your heart and mind, and causes you to exclaim “Wonderful! Wonderful! Namas Buddha!” In my world today, this is attained, more and more consistently as I connect with the Threefold Lotus Sutra, stories of the Buddha’s life and his teachings, his “former lives” and the struggles of his disciples to attain the same way along with him to attain the Buddha-way. “For this one Great Cause” all enlightened ones appear in the world.