Choosing Serenity: Lord Buddha

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“CHOOSING SERENITY: LORD BUDDHA”

Buddha is synonymous with calmness and serenity. Gautama Buddha, also known as Siddhartha Gautama was a philosopher, mendicant, meditator, spiritual teacher and a religious leader who lived in ancient India. He is widely considered as the founder of Buddhism, a religion which encompasses a variety of traditions, beliefs and spiritual practices based on the teachings of Buddha. Buddhism is the world’s fourth largest religion now.

Siddharta Gautama was born in a place called Lumbini, near the border of India and Nepal around 2600 years ago. Although born a prince, he realized that conditioned experiences could not provide lasting happiness or protection from suffering. After a long spiritual search, he went deep into meditation, where he realized the nature of the mind. He is said to have achieved the state of unconditional and lasting happiness; the state of Buddhahood, the state of enlightenment. This state of mind is free from disturbing emotions and expresses itself through fearlessness, joy and active compassion. For the rest of his life, the Buddha taught this art of free mind to anyone who asked how they could reach the same state.

Buddhist images, paintings and statues are loved and much sought after around the world. They are an object of Buddhist devotion and identity for over 2000 years , acting as the inspirational focus and the means for devotees to express their reverence and gratitude for the Buddha teachings.

For me, personally, images of Lord Buddha bring in a state of calmness to my mind. There is a sense of positivity and serenity around him that just fills the heart. I love to have images of Buddha, whether as wall arts or cushion covers, in a special corner of my home and dedicate that corner as a cool-off & stress buster area. A few scented candles, some light music, a bit of green and a nice book – perfecto!

TREE

Lord Buddha meditating under the Tree. It is absolutely beautiful, the green leaves giving it a total ravishing look!