What is Buddha?

I saw your consultation.
It's a very good question to ask without fear of misleading words! I myself am looking forward to receiving responses from many monks.

Historically speaking, Buddha is Gautama Siddhartha (Buddha), but Buddha is not the only Buddha, and Buddha was not the only Buddha from the beginning.

I woke up to the truth and became a Buddha.

Therefore, Buddha indicates “something awakened to the truth,” but at the same time, it also indicates “function” that awakens to the truth.
Therefore, as expressed as the “Ganges River Sand Number Buddha,” there are as many sands on the Ganges River, in other words, countless Buddhas.

Now, the truth that the Buddha awakened to is not a concept that the Buddha thought up and created anew. The Buddha woke up. Yes, in other words, the truth was already there before Shakyamuni, and Shakyamuni awakened him.

When it comes to what I want to say, the truth is that it exists and works regardless of whether I believe it or not. It goes beyond the direction of “I believe.”

Rather, I think it's safe to say that it is a “function” that illuminates “my image of doubting the Buddha,” no matter how far I go.

I doubt the Buddha, expect mystical experiences (strange experiences), find mysterious powers in coincidental experiences, and be caught in fear of good fortune... it is my heart of hesitation to be trapped by such false things.

Truth is Buddha's wisdom that tells me that I'm lost when I'm lost.

Laws are selfless, actions are impermanent, all suffering, nirvana silence

It is here as a fact that will never leave this present reality.

It doesn't solidify my faith. It shatters a lie's faith.
That's why you can be anxious. I'm glad it's empty. It's okay to get lost. The Buddha is working there.

　Hello.

When we say “Buddha,” we mean Buddha, the embodiment of Buddhist ideals who have realized the truth.
Generally speaking, it indicates Buddha. The Buddha is a real person in history, so the question “Do you believe in the existence of Buddha” is equivalent to the question “Do you believe in the existence of Tokugawa Ieyasu?”
Also, the word “believe” is certainly used in Buddhism, but in Buddhism, unlike “believing” such as “believing in the existence of God (the great power of an invisible metaphysical being),” I think it is used in the sense of “devotion” (supporting the mind).

I'll share my experience here.
When I was in middle school, I wanted to enter the high school of my choice, so I fervently worshiped Buddha and copied sutras every day.
However, the results were unsatisfactory.
This is a “strange event” that I experienced. (lol)
Oh, I realized that praying to the Buddha didn't work, and that I had to study properly.

Maybe by praying, you say, “Pikan! Congrats! Are you expecting something like “this is a blessing”?
I think that's probably not the case with Buddhism.

Of course, worshiping is important.
But, as I experienced, it means “you can't pass unless you study properly.”
If there is no cause, there is no effect. This is something the Buddha noticed.
It means that Buddhism is not for the benefit of this world. It means becoming aware of the truth.

It's very good to put your hands together in front of a Buddhist altar. But you can't ask for a profit in this world. If you have a wish, make a proper effort towards it. The prayers in it are effective. Also, it is important to worship with a feeling of gratitude.

Another Buddhist precept is the “Three Treasures of Fury” (fubosan bokai). It's a teaching that we must not raise doubts about the teachings of Buddhism.
It won't save your heart if you think, “Is this really OK?” Please worship with your whole body and soul.

The Buddha has three bodies: Dharma, Retaliation, and Response.
In other words, it can be said that there are three types of Buddha.
Dharma is a case where the truth of the universe itself is regarded as a Buddha.
Examples include Dainichi Nyorai (Birshana Buddha).
Retaliation is the Buddha who realized it as a result (reward) of ascetic practice. He has a specific personality, and in our world, Buddha, who died 2,500 years ago at the age of 80, is the Buddha who died 2,500 years ago.
Amitabha Buddha in the Western Pure Land of Paradise is also a Hoshin Buddha that Hozo Bosatsu realized as a result of ascetic practices.
Finally, Oshinbutsu is an incarnation where the Buddha transforms and appears to save sentient beings.
In Japan, beliefs and ideas have also appeared that the ancient Japanese gods also have their true identity (origin) as Buddha.
Amaterasu Omikami is actually an incarnation of Amitabha Buddha.
Also, the Jodo sect adores Zendo Daishi of the Tang Dynasty in China as an “incarnation of Amitabha Buddha.”
(Zendo Daishi himself did not say that.)
What matters is whether or not you can relate to the Buddha's story and characters.
For example, whether you sympathize with or agree with Amitabha Buddha's vow (mercy) to save all sentient beings.
The Buddhist spirit of equality and mercy is vividly described in the stories of Amitabha Buddha in the sutras, so we can also sympathize with “I wish everyone could be saved.”

worship

Be truly grateful to your ancestors in front of the Buddhist altar
It is the mind and body itself when praying for souls

Other things that make me happy
In other words, everything is Buddha

And in the real world, think about others
And the moment I'm going
The budding goodness itself
This is Buddha

And firmly capture an unstable heart disturbed by greed and anxiety
Do good and accumulate virtue
This is Buddha's teaching

Just like Himajin-san
While getting rid of the conflict with distractions
We monks are also practicing ascetics
However, when one is immovable, such distractions are unfathomable

Even if there are mystical experiences and strange things
Like the general public, it may not be talked about very much publicly
For me, I'd like to be a person who thinks nothing of a sunset or sunrise is mysterious

Gassho

There are a few variations, but I am also the version of Hosshin (Hosshin), and Ojin (Ojin).

Of these, the one with a strong metaphysical image is the second reward. I feel like through repeated ascetic practices, you will become a Buddha and save all of humanity.
The so-called concept of believing was a concept unfamiliar to Japanese religion, including Shinto. For the 8 million gods, it's an extremely human-like idea to “get in a good mood at the festival, so let's be quiet so they don't get rough instead.” This is a common concept in polytheistic circles. The Amida faith is a bit special, but if you grow up in a culture based on this idea, it's natural to get caught up in the concept of monotheistic belief.

The third response is for actual humans to understand. It has been archaeologically proven that the Buddha was a real person, and there are many people other than Buddha who have realized it. In the primitive sutras before the hurdle of the word Buddha became inflated, everyone was puzzled.
What is important here is not to believe in the title of enlightened, but to touch, empathize with, and be moved by that teaching. Have you heard any heart-moving puja stories? It's not a mystical experience; it's the experience that matters. This is because Buddhism is a religion that was spread by Buddha through his puja's journey.

The first Dharma, the truth itself, is called Buddha. Everything in this world has causes and effects. Cause and effect are connected across the past, present, and future, and spread out like a net... that web-like connection itself. In esoteric Buddhism, it is expressed in terms of the positional relationship of the Buddha, that is, a mandala (mandala), and in Zen, we see it in everyday life, such as the mountain or river itself that spreads out in front of us. That's why Buddhism is compatible with nature beliefs.

On the other side of the Buddha statue, the monk feels three things: the world itself (Dharma), the wish to be saved and saved (revenge), and the teachings (response) that have been handed down continuously from Buddha to himself. Then they put their hands together while feeling gratitude and respect for that. I don't really understand it, but I don't believe it. It's “thanks and respect.” This is not a Christian faith; it is a Buddhist faith.