Buddhism is a religion to about 300 million people around the world. The word comes from 'budhi', 'to awaken'. It has its origins about 2,500 years ago when Siddhartha Gautama, known as the Buddha, was himself awakened (enlightened) at the age of 35.
Those who do not know the Buddha properly, consider Him a God. The Buddha never esteemed such unnecessary glory, praise or honour. Nor did He expect such things.
The Buddha appeared among men solely to make people see their ignorance, lack of awareness, wrong views, fallacies, and wrong actions. Such a great man will never expect limitless deference, praise or honour from the people.
One day, the Buddha walked along the road from the city of Ukkattha to the city of Setavya. A Brahmin named Drona, travelling along the same road after the Buddha, saw His footprints. He looked at them and thought, “ These can never be the footprints of a human being. ” The Buddha stepped aside from the road and sat under a tree. Brahmin Drona walked up to the Buddha, whose demeanour was exceedingly calm and serene, and questioned Him thus:
Brahmin : ” Are you a God? ”
The Buddha : ” Brahmin, I am not a God. ”
Brahmin : ” Are you a Gandhabba ( divine musician )? ”
The Buddha : ” Brahmin, I am not a Gandhabba. ”
Brahmin : ” Are you a Yakkha? ”
The Buddha : ” Brahmin, I am not a Yakkha. ”
Brahmin : ” Are you a human being? ”
The Buddha : ” Brahmin, I am not a human being, either.
Brahmin : ” When I ask you whether you are a God, you say “ No, I am not a God. ” When I ask you whether you are a Gandhabba, a Yakkha or a human being, you say “ No. ” If that were so, who are you? ”
The Buddha : ” O Brahmin, if I am a god, I must have those sense-desires. But, I have eradicated sense-desires fully. Therefore, I am not a God. If I am a Gandhabba, I must have sense-desires. But I have eradicated those fully. Therefore, I am not a Gandhabba.
O Brahmin, if I am a Yakkha, I must have the sense-desires that a Yakkha should have. But, I eradicated all that fully. Therefore, I am not a Yakkha, either. O Brahmin, if I am an ordinary human being, I must have the sense-desires of ordinary men. But, I have totally eradicated those. Therefore, I am not a human being like other human beings.
This Article was written by Ven. Weragoda Sarada Maha Thero
