“You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.”
–
Buddha
Copyright Beth Parker Art 2012
It’s a Purple Weanie Dog!
This is one of two paintings I did for my neighbor. She was giving
them to her best friend, who just happens to love these dogs. I worked
on commissions all weekend, so I don’t have anything brand new to show
you for the next couple days, so I’m exploring the archives.
Who is Buddha?
Buddha can refer to the historical Buddha Shakyamuni or to anyone who
has attained full enlightenment. Geshe Kelsang Gyatso explains in
Introduction to Buddhism:
Awakened One. A Buddha is a person who is completely free from all faults and mental obstructions.
In general, ‘Buddha’ means ‘Awakened One’, someone who has awakened
from the sleep of ignorance and sees things as they really are. A Buddha
is a person who is completely free from all faults and mental
obstructions. There are many people who have become Buddhas in the past,
and many people will become Buddhas in the future….There is nothing
that Buddha does not know. Because he has awakened from the sleep of
ignorance and has removed all obstructions from his mind, he knows
everything of the past, present, and future, directly and
simultaneously. Moreover, Buddha has great compassion which is
completely impartial, embracing all living beings without
discrimination.
He benefits all living beings without exception by emanating various
forms throughout the universe, and by bestowing his blessings on their
minds. Through receiving Buddha’s blessings, all being, even the
lowliest animals, sometimes develop peaceful and virtuous states of
mind. Eventually, through meeting an emanation of Buddha in the form of a
Spiritual Guide, everyone will have the opportunity to enter the path
to liberation and enlightenment. As the great Indian Buddhist scholar
Nagarjuna said, there is no one who has not received help from Buddha.
