So who was the Buddha, anyway?
If you ask different sorts of Buddhists I suspect that you will get variety of answers about their understanding of who the Buddha was and what He represents.
Yes there was a historical figure called Siddhartha who founded a religion. You can read the historical evidence of his family and background, and the growth of the new religion and its leading characters. (see Schuman 1982 for example)
But who was the Buddha and what is Buddhahood?
I can see three or four major strands of belief and there are probably many combinations in between them.
- The Buddha was just a man, from a privileged family who felt that there must be more to life than the luxury of his surroundings and lifestyle, so he left home in search of the answer to life, the universe and everything. He sought help from several religious leaders of the time and still was not satisfied. He tried starving himself - but that did not solve his doubts. So he eventually realised that the pathway from unhappiness was stop chasing after happiness; thus becoming a Buddha - someone who is enlightened by his or her own efforts. He then toured the countryside sharing that knowledge with others until he died of food-poisoning.
- Then there is the same chap whose life's story also includes many mythical, but historically unproven, events such as:- a miraculous conception; foretelling of greatness by wise men; exceptional wisdom in his youth; abandoning his life of luxury after visions of reality; a period of self imposed isolation; temptation by the 'devil'; enlightenment associated with earthquakes and other unusual events; a visit to the heavens to teach the gods; prediction of his own demise.... *
- And there is Buddha as a superior sort of immortal being called a 'Buddha' that takes birth in human form out of compassion for the human race to teach them the path towards eternal happiness in heavenly realms. Out of kindness he chooses not to reveal his true nature because only the wisest humans would be able to understand.
- But there is also the concept of a holistic sort of 'Buddha-Nature' that we are all part of and all have the capability of realising if we choose to. The historical Buddha and the various apostolic lineages are evidence that it is possible for us to fulfill that potential.
Which ever of these versions, or a combination of them, you choose to accept - they all offer the hope that there is some better way of life that we can all achieve. All forms of Buddhism offer advice on how to achieve this through various combinations of morality, meditation, wisdom and faith. Some Buddhists may find happiness now through a less stressful and simpler lifestyle. Others may have a greater goal that may only be achieved through many many lifetimes of meritorious actions.
Buddhism does not claim that it is 'the only true path' and condemn nonbelievers to all sorts of horrible futures. There is no reason why the great spiritual leaders of different faiths could not have been enlightened Buddhas and there is no reason why non-Buddhists cannot use Buddhist teaching and meditations** to enhance their own lives if they choose.
* Joseph Campbell finds interesting parallels in the the mythologies of other religions and I do recommend his books to you.
** Though some meditation practices can "do your head in" if you don't have the help of a good teacher.
