Buddha

The ancient Sanskrit word ‘Buddha’ means ‘having become awoken ‘ in the
sense of having attained ‘supreme awareness’. It is closely related to the
term ‘Bodhi’ which refers to awareness. The serene & sublime image of
Gautama embodies a condition of compassionate understanding, of an awoken
illuminated mind. This is a stark contrast to many Western ideas of outward
pride, muscular vigor & displays of material wealth. Gautama Shakyamuni was
born c.563 BCE in Lumbini which is today in Nepal. He concentrated on the
cardinal Rule of Desire & its relationship to hate. This Principle
pre-existed his lifetime & is a theme common to Hinduism, Jainism & similar
faiths. Desire is taken in the sense of greed, selfishness, possessiveness
which combine to obscure higher awareness & understanding, especially in
context with the world around us. He was certain that the suffering of sick
people, hungry people, old people & poor desperate people was caused by &
had arisen through a misunderstanding & that misplaced-desire & had
generated this suffering.