Master of Buddhism Lesson 1

1.Does the story of Siddhartha Guatama, particularly in the years before he became the Buddha, ring true? Is it legend or hearsay? Does it matter?

I think the story of Siddhartha before he became the Buddha has some elements of truth in it like any story. Yes I believe Siddhartha was a real person and a prince. Yet beyond this and how exaggerated the stories are and how he came to be is another question which can not be entirely answered. This is because all of the history and teachings of the time were handed down through word of mouth for many generations before they were actually written down in some form (not to mention different interpretations and various schools of thought having a hand with the history). To that end, I would say that it is more legend than fact. However, the embellishments and allegories in much of the history seem to make good use of conveying and setting a framework for the path the student of Buddhism would take. For example, what better way to illustrate the idea that everyone suffers (i.e. sickness, aging, and death) than by having a great prince who has been sheltered for the first 29 years of his life with every luxury and want fulfilled to suddenly have his whole world turned upside down when he comes into contact with the common "afflictions" of life. He then comes to a realization that those things are inevitable for everyone whether they are a prince or not.

I do not think it matters whether the story is legend or hearsay. It is all about what we take from it and how we use it. The main goal of Buddhism is to end one's suffering and like any teaching one has to figure out if it works for them.

2. What does enlightenment mean to you?

Enlightenment to me means being free of a burden or burdens. A burden in the sense of something that creates a constant cycle of suffering. For example, being attached to things which make us unhappy at the thought of losing them. Or, dwelling on situations which make us upset instead of figuring out why they happened in the first place. Sometimes we even remain ignorant of the past until it happens then get upset all over gain. Enlightenment is the cessation of these things or the recocgnition and

3. Do you believe that enlightenment is possible? Is there more than one way to be enlightened? If so, what?

I do believe enlightenment is possible if we lead a mindful life. That is, understanding how our actions will affect other people, the environment, and ourselves. If we reflect on: the things we do, the way we think, the way we perceive life, the way we view every thing – we can at least begin on a path to end suffering by transforming it into something much more positive.

I think that the path to enlightenment can be different depending on the person and what they take from their lessons from a teacher, book, or any other number of sources. Were there only one way, then Siddhartha would not have spent a large portion of his life trying to find it.