Buddha facts for kids

This article is about Holy People. For The Lord Buddha, see Gautama Buddha.

Buddhism
Basic terms
Three Jewels Four Noble Truths Dukkha Samudaya Nirodha Marga Noble Eightfold Path Buddhahood Enlightenment Nirvana
People
Gautama Buddha Dalai Lama Bodhisattva Sangha
Schools
Theravada Mahayana Zen Vajrayana Nyingma Kagyu Sakya Gelug
Practices
study Dharma Meditation Metta

Big Lord Buddha Statue, Lantau Island, HK

A Lord Buddha is a very holy person in Buddhism. The word Buddha means "enlightened one" in Sanskrit. Buddha was born Siddhartha Gautama. He was the man who started Buddhism. Sometimes people call him "the Buddha". Other times, people call any person a Buddha if they have found enlightenment. If a person has not found enlightenment yet, but is very close to reaching it, then he is called Bodhisattva.

In early Buddhism, Buddha meant only Siddhartha Gautama. Later an idea began that there could be many Buddhas: some in the past, some maybe in the present and some in the future.

Since Buddhism tradition thinks Buddha is an ideal person, tradition reached a notion of 36 ideal features of Buddhas. Some of those features are represented on statues of Buddhas. Some other features, like the feature of their foot, are difficult to be represented on a statue.

Buddhists believe that the Buddha was enlightened, which means that he knew all about how to live a peaceful life and how to not to suffer in an afterlife. They think he never got depressed, frustrated, upset or confused. He is said to have never argued with other people, but just said what was true and useful, out of compassion.

Sujin Boriharnwanaket taught:

“If one studies the Buddhist scriptures one will see the Buddha's compassion. He taught the Dhamma to those who wanted to listen, he taught for the sake of their benefit and wellbeing. He wanted to help the listeners and did not want any misfortune to occur to them, no matter who they were. Even shortly before his final passing away he still taught the Dhamma to Subhadda who became the last disciple in the presence of the Buddha himself. This clearly shows his great compassion.

Some Buddhists pray to Buddhas, but Buddhas are not gods. Buddhas are just teachers, to help people who will listen. A Buddha is a human being who has woken up and can see the true way the world works. This knowledge totally changes the person beyond birth, death, and rebirth. Nothing can annoy him anymore, even the circulation of incarnation, since his enlightenment put him outsides of this eternity circle in time and space. This person can help others become enlightened too in a proper way.

There are ideas which are said to lead someone to enlightenment. They are called the Dharma, meaning the way or the truth. Anyone can become a Buddha, it is said, but it is very hard. Age and gender do not matter. Buddhists believe there have been many Buddhas who were alone, called pacceka-buddhas. They reached enlightenment on their own, but they did not teach others. The first Buddha was afraid to teach people too. Their poor understanding made them hard to teach. But he did teach people, and people followed him.

Other pages

• Siddhartha Gautama
• Buddhism

Images for kids

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  Ancient kingdoms and cities of India during the time of the Buddha.

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  Buddha by Otgonbayar Ershuu

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  Birthplace of Gautama Buddha in Lumbini, Nepal, a holy shrine also for many non-Buddhists.

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  Departure of Prince Siddhartha

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  The Victory of Buddha

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  The "Great Departure" of Siddhartha Gautama, surrounded by a halo, he is accompanied by numerous guards, maithuna loving couples, and devata who have come to pay homage; Gandhara, Kushan period

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  Prince Siddhartha shaves his hair and becomes an ascetic. Borobudur, 8th century

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  Dhamek Stupa in Sârnâth, India, site of the first teaching of the Buddha in which he taught the Four Noble Truths to his first five disciples

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  Buddha with his protector Vajrapani, Gandhāra, 2nd century CE, Ostasiatische Kunst Museum

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  A view of Vulture Peak, where the Atanatiya Sutta was held

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  The Buddha's entry into Parinirvana. Sanskrit palm leaf manuscript. Nālandā, Bihar, India. Pāla period

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  The sharing of the relics of the Buddha, Zenyōmitsu-Temple Museum, Tokyo

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  Life scenes of Buddha, sand stone: Birth, Enlightenment, Descent from Heaven, First Sermon, Passing Away, c. 2nd Century CE, Government Museum, Mathura.

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  Hair Relics of Buddha on display at Gangaramaya Temple (Colombo).

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  Gandhāran depiction of the Buddha from Hadda, Afghanistan; Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

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  Lord Buddha at Pandavleni Caves, Nashik.

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  The Buddha on a coin of Kanishka I, circa 130 CE.

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  Buddha depicted as the 9th avatar of god Vishnu in a traditional Hindu representation

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  A panorama of scenes from the Buddha's life, from a Burmese parabaik or picture book