Introducing Buddha: A Graphic Guide (Graphic Guides)

by Borin Van Loon

There is much misunderstanding about who or what the Buddha was. The word Buddha literally means “awakened one”.

Awakened !

He himself felt frightened and alarmed when he reflected on the inevitability of old age, sickness and death. He became silent and withdrawn.

Nothing is permanent !

Suffering is an approximate translation of the Pali word dukkha. Dukkha implies impermanence, imperfection and unsatisfactoriness. The Buddha did not start teaching by talking of his enlightenment, of bliss or openness or clarity; he started by talking about the truth of suffering.

Dhukkam !

Most of us live without awareness of the natural course of our lives. We were all born but don’t remember the pain or shock of the transition from being safe and enclosed to the shock of being pushed out into a new element. We treat illness with resentment as though it is a total betrayal, and our bodies become an enemy. Old age is seen as something that happens to other people, and death is treated like rumour that may or may not be true.

The peace and equanimity of the Buddha comes from an acceptance of the transitory nature of life.

Acceptance !

The Sanskrit word for this circular chain is samsara. Samsaric existence is endless, so long as we live in ignorance.

Meaning of Samsaram in tamil is 'Wife'. So, Wife is someone who accepts the circular chain of life and take care of everyone in her family with love, affection, care without any expectation.

We are preoccupied with the past, which has already happened, and we are pre-occupied about the future, which does not yet exist. We worry about what will happen and we think about various things that make us feel anxious, frustrated, passionate, angry, resentful, afraid. While we are so preoccupied, our awareness of the here-and-now slips by and we hardly notice its passing.

Presence !