Most Venerable Bhante Walpola Piyananda's 80th Birthday Celebrating - Collected Essays

as a reminder of these most important events.
At this point I would like to explain the meaning of the word
“Buddha,” and what the Buddha has expounded to us. One meaning
of “Buddha” is “one who has realized complete freedom from all the
stress and tribulations of existence in the world.” Other meanings are:
“The Fully Awakened One”; one who has awakened from the heavy
and long sleep of ignorance; one who guides others to awaken from
that same sleep.
Thus, the Buddha was the most extra-ordinary human being.
He attained perfection, the consummation of self-development, through
his own effort and independent self-investigation.
Buddha’s attainment was not an accidental occurrence. It was
the result of the vast experience and virtues gathered for incalculable
numbers of past lives. He gradually matured until he achieved
Enlightenment at the foot of the Bodhi tree. According to the texts and
commentaries, he was a human like any of us.
Seeing suffering in the world, he made up his mind to solve the
problem of suffering. With this aim fully planted in his heart, he began
to practice the ten virtues for many lifetimes. He earnestly practiced
the virtues for a very long time with compassion and skillfulness. He
fulfilled the perfections of generosity, morality, giving up worldly
pleasures, wisdom, energy, patience, truthfulness, perseverance, loving
kindness and equanimity. This long practice came to its fulfillment and
culmination when he became the Buddha.
Now I will speak of how the Buddha was of service to the
world. When he made the first definite aspiration for Buddhahood, he
said to himself: “I will attain Enlightenment and help others become
enlightened; being perfect, I will help others become perfect.” He
served the world by helping people to open their eyes to see the Truth,
the Truth that saves the world by removing suffering. He said that you
must try to realize the Truth for yourself. The Buddha only teaches and
guides. We must remember the famous sayings of the Buddha found
in the Dhammapada: “You should do your work, the Buddhas only
point the way…”; “One is truly the protector [refuge] of oneself; Who
else could the protector [refuge] be? With oneself fully controlled, one
obtains protection [refuge] that is hard to gain.”
The Buddha is like a physician who gives you medicine, but
if you don’t take the medicine, or if you spit it out even after taking it,
how could you be cured? So we must all be determined and learn and
follow the way shown by him. If you do not like to take the medicine
and another drinks it for your sake, your disease will not be cured. That
is why the Buddha said, “One is one’s own refuge.” This is a specific
feature of Buddhism.
He was not concerned with gathering followers to worship
him. He was not jealous of other teachers. He worked harmoniously
with all.
Once in the city of Nalanda there was a millionaire, a staunch
follower of Nataputta Nigantha, the greatest spiritual teacher of the
Jains. This millionaire was so generous that every day he offered food
and other requisites to a vast number of Jain monks. He was also
well versed in the teachings of Nataputta. Hearing that the Buddha’s
teaching was different, he wanted to engage him in debate. After the
debate, he was convinced that the Buddha was right and that Nataputta
was wrong. He asked to become the Buddha’s follower.
Buddha said, “Don’t be in a hurry to become my follower.
Being a person of high status in this country, you should not come to
such a quick conclusion. Think, consider and ponder still further over
this matter.” Then the millionaire said, “Up to this time, every day I
welcomed and supported the disciples of Nataputta. But after this, I
will stop all that.”
Hearing this, the Buddha said, “Don’t take that step. Continue
to support them as before.” Such was Buddha’s way.
Occasionally, the Buddha, accompanied by some of his
disciples, would visit the monasteries of other religious teachers and
hold friendly discussions with them. Once, another teacher wanted to
debate with the Buddha. The Buddha said, “You should not think that
I am trying to convert you to my way. You may follow your own way.
Let us discuss the similarities between your teachings and mine, and
see who is following those teachings.”
He never forced anyone to become a follower; everyone was
free to choose his or her own path. Among religious teachers, the
Buddha was foremost in teaching tolerance in the world.
In the third century B.C.E., Emperor Asoka, a Buddhist,
followed this noble example. He honored and supported all other
religions in his vast empire. He made this an Edict which was carved
on a stone pillar.
The Buddha not only showed the path to freedom from
samsara, the cycle of rebirth; he also brought about great social reforms.
Brahmins were the most powerful in the community during his time;
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