the history of buddah

"Enlightenment"

In Buddhism a Buddha is any being who has become fully awakened or enlightened and has therefore overcome greed, hate& ignorance, and has achieved complete liberation from suffering. The story of Buddha is said to go as follows:

Having regained his strength, Siddhartha went to the site of Bodh Gaya, where he seated himself under a tree to meditate, vowing not to move until he had attained enlightenment. During his meditation he was assailed by doubts, temptations and terrifying visions sent by Mara, the personification of desire, but Siddhartha sat unmoved throughout.

Finally Mara himself appeared to taunt him, asking the Bodhisattva to produce evidence of his accumulated merit. In answer, he simply lowered his right hand to touch the earth. At his touch, the earth goddess spoke in voice like thunder, saying 'I am his witness' and defeated at last, Mara and his armies of demons retired. The dramatic moment when Siddhartha over came desire is represented in Buddhist art by the 'touching the earth' gesture, in which the Buddha seated in the meditation posture, lowers his right hand, palm inwards, so that his middle finger touches the earth.

Sculptures - Wooden Buddhas :: Brass Buddhas