GeekZenDaddy Buddhist Blog

Happy Bodhi Day! December 7, 2006

  The prince, Siddhartha Gautama, left his home and family and all his possessions behind at the age of 29 to discover the meaning of life, particularly its hardships. After six years of rigorous discipline and asceticism under the guidance of a number of spiritual teachers, he still hadn’t found what he was looking for. While traveling with a small group of fellow seekers, he went off by himself, broke his fast, and sat down under a pipal tree and vowed not to arise until he understood. He sat through the week, day and night, and on the eighth morning came to the realization which became the founding principles of what the modern world calls Buddhism. Bodhi Day–Usually observed December 8 or the Sunday immediately preceding, is the date, according to Mahayana tradition, of Siddhartha Gautama’s realization and presentation to his fellow seekers of the Four Noble Truths:

1. All beings are subject to suffering. No one escapes… suffering is universal.
   
2. The cause of suffering is Ignorance. And Ignorance of oneself is the greatest Ignorance.
   
3. Ignorance, the cause of suffering, can be overcome, and
   
4. The way to overcome Ignorance is the Eightfold Path.

From that point forward, he was referred to as the Buddha, the Enlightened One. He is also referred to as Shakyamuni (the sage of the Shakya clan) Buddha, Gautama Buddha, Shakanyorai (in Japanese), and many other names to distinguish him from Amida Buddha, who in our Temple’s interpretation, is not seen as a historical figure but the idealized Buddha of unlimited wisdom and compassion and is equated with all of life itself, and thus signifies all of us.

Source - http://www.budtempchi.org/bodhiwriteup.html