Saturday, July 18, 2009

Meditation Session - Buddhanusati

This is reflection on the attributes of the Buddha.
The attributes of the Buddha are in the verse

Itipiso Bhagava Araham,
Sammasambuddo, Vijjacarana Sampanno,
Sugato Lokavidu,
Anuttaro purrisa dhamma sarathi Satta deva manussanam
Buddho Bhagavati.

For the purposes of the practice, sit quietly, imagine/ recall the image of your favorite buddha, and with each breath, repeat the word "Araham" in your mind.

Here is an excerpt on what Araham means :

"In Buddhist terminology, an arahant is one who has reached the culmination of the path, who is fully enlightened. A Buddha is an arahant, and there is no difference between his realization of Nibbana and that of other arahants. The special qualities of a Buddha reside in his knowledge, power and teaching ability. The stock formula describing an arahant, found many places in the canon, is as follows; "one with taints destroyed, who has lived the holy life, done what had to be done, laid done the burden, reached the true goal, destroyed the fetters of being, and is completely liberated through final knowledge."

In the context of the epithets of the Buddha, the most important aspect here is the first, the destruction of the taints. This means the complete purification of the mind from all delusions, addictions, negativities and so forth. Just try to imagine what it would be like to have a mind like that, clear and open through and through without any hint of a shadow lurking anywhere to obstruct the light. In Buddhist psychology, it should be remembered, the innermost and most essential aspect of mind is pure awareness; which is light, void and bliss. It is only the presence of the defilements which obstruct us from accessing that inherent Buddha-light, and their removal is enlightenment.

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