Originally Published June 18, 2019
“A Buddha is one who has attained Bodhi; and by Bodhi is meant wisdom, an ideal state of intellectual and ethical perfection which can be achieved by man through purely human means. The term Buddha literally means enlightened one, a knower. “ The Atlantic, February 1958 Issue
Remy settles down directly in front of the cement Buddha overseeing our backyard. Around the Buddha’s neck a simple wooden bead mala anchored by a worn red tassel. A pink quartz stone rests in his palms. He gazes east towards the sunrise. Remy sits, crossed legged, facing the Buddha, holding her own pink quartz stone. It nestles in her stacked hands, held in exactly in the same position as the stately Buddha’s. Seated tall, with her normally busy eyes closed, she is very still. She squints trying hard to concentrate for we, the adults, are making too much noise. Shhhhhhhhhhhhh! The little Buddha requires quiet. The little Buddha is meditating. The little Buddha is focused. Our hearts melt a little. We quiet down and watch Remy immersed in her practice. The history and philosophy of the ancient practice of meditation is not understood by our little Buddha. She knows nothing of the Three Jewels, the Middle Way, the Eightfold Path, or the Four Noble Truths. She knows nothing about Dharma, Karma or Sangha. She sits calmly, with eyes closed, palms resting on thighs. The little Buddha is meditating and we, the adults, are now quiet, sitting peacefully as Remy shows us The Way.
To learn about the tradition and philosophy of Buddhism, click on the link below.