Attaining Buddhahood | Buddhism

Buddhahood is not reserved only for the chosen people or for the supernatural beings. Anyone can become a Buddha.

No founder of any other religion ever said that his followers could have the opportunity or potentiality to attain the same position as the founder.

However, attaining Buddhahood is the most difficult task a person can pursue in this world.

One must work hard by sacrificing one’s worldly pleasures. One has to develop and purify one’s mind from evil thoughts in order to obtain this enlightenment.

It will take innumerable births for a person to purify himself and to develop his mind in order to become a Buddha. Long periods of great effort are necessary in order to complete the high qualification of this self-training.

The course of this self-training which culminates in Buddhahood, includes self-discipline, self-restraint, superhuman effort, firm determination, and willingness to undergo any kind of suffering for the sake of other living beings who are suffering in this world.

This clearly shows that the Buddha did not obtain his supreme enlightenment by simply praying, worshipping, or making offerings to some supernatural beings. He attained Buddhahood by the purification of his mind and heart.

He gained supreme enlightenment without the influence of any external supernatural forces but by the development of his own insight.

Thus, only a man who has firm determination and courage to overcome all hindrances, weaknesses, and selfish desires can attain Buddhahood.

The Buddha had a natural birth; he lived in a normal way. But he was an extraordinary man, as far as his enlightenment was concerned. Those who have not learnt to appreciate his supreme wisdom, try to explain his greatness by peeping into his life and looking for miracles.

However, the Buddha’s supreme enlightenment is more than enough for us to understand his greatness by introducing any miraculous power.

Every supernatural power becomes natural when people come to know how it takes place.

The voice of the Buddha is the most powerful voice that has been heard in human history in support of the dignity of man and of the principle that man is the maker of his own destiny, and that man is not for religion but that religion must serve man.

That means: without becoming a slave to any religion, man must try to make use of religion for his betterment and liberation.

Source: Food for the Thinking Mind by K Sri Dhammananda