Who is Shakyamuni Buddha

Buddha Shakyamuni Turquoise and Gold Amulet - $ 350.00
This pendant is 2 inches wide and 3 inches long and it was handmade in Nepal. This amulet is gold, with a turquoise Shakyamuni Buddha on the front, and small turquoise and coral stones around the sides.

"Buddha Shakyamuni has four unique features that distinguish him from among the thousand buddhas that appear in the Fortunate Aeon. His first unique feature is that he cares for the beings of this era of strife, an era in which the five degenerations are widespread. Among all the thousand buddhas, he is the only one who appears in such an unfortunate time.

At the time when the buddhas have not yet reached enlightenment but are still traveling the path as bodhisattvas, they all make specific aspirations for their future activities as buddhas. Buddha Shakyamuni, when he was still a bodhisattva, made five hundred great aspirations, all of which specifically entailed helping beings at the time when they, in general, would be tormented by the five degenerations.

None of the other buddhas that have appeared (or will appear) throughout the course of this Fortunate Aeon chose to emphasize such aspirations when they were traveling the bodhisattva path. Instead, it was their conclusion that sentient beings of the degenerate times would, in general, be unsuitable vessels for the dharma. Hence, Buddha Shakyamuni is considered to be more courageous than the other guides of the Fortunate Aeon. This manifest courage is the second of the four unique features that distinguish him from the other buddhas of the Fortunate Aeon.

Due to his extraordinarily compassionate development of bodhicitta and the marvelous five hundred aspirations he made, Buddha Shakyamuni was 'praised as the White Lotus' by all the other buddhas of this aeon. This is the third of the four unique features that distinguish Buddha Shakyamuni from the other buddhas of this Fortunate Aeon.

The fourth unique feature by which Buddha Shakyamuni is known is that of the immense power of blessing carried by his name. Whoever so much as hears his name will become a non-returner. Like a fish who has entered a fisherman's net, any being who makes a connection of any kind with Buddha Shakyamuni has entered into his net of compassion. The immense blessing power emanating from Buddha Shakyamuni arises on the basis of his immeasurable qualities and due to the strength of his former aspirations. His compassion is beyond all concepts and thoughts and thus reaches out to all sentient beings, free from even the most subtle bias or partiality...

...Among the immeasurable qualities of the Buddha, eight of his foremost qualities manifest as the eight bodhisattvas:

1. the personification of the Buddha's wisdom is Bodhisattva Manjushri;
2. the personification of the Buddha's compassion appears as Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara;
3. the personification of the Buddha's power or capacity is Bodhisattva Vajrapani;
4. the personification of the Buddha's activity is Bodhisattva Maitreya;
5. the personification of the Buddha's merit arises as Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha;
6. the personification of the Buddha's qualities appears as Bodhisattva Sarvanivaranaviskambhi;
7. the personification of the Buddha's blessings arises as Bodhisattva Akasagarbha; and
8. the personification of Buddha's aspirations is manifest as Bodhisattva Samantabhadra."

- From Chapter 1 of Drops of Nectar, Khenpo Kunpal's commentary on the Bodhisattva-Charyavatara with explanations by Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpoche.

Buddhist Wisdom 16 months 2010 Deluxe Wall Calendar

With magical photographs of the Buddhist Himalayas in combination with inspirational quotations from the great masters of Buddhism, past and present, this unique calendar offers peace and happiness for 2010 and beyond.

Saga Dawa is a special day for devoting all our thoughts, words, and actions for the benefit of others.

Saga Dawa Düchen marks the Buddha's enlightenment and parinirvana (passing beyond the cycle of death and rebirth). It is one of four holy days in the Vajrayana Buddhist calendar that mark events in the life of the Buddha.

Such a day is considered an auspicious time to make abundant offerings, circumambulate the stupas, and read and study the teachings. (In fact, so auspicious that the merit is considered to be multiplied 10 million times.)

This day commemorates the Buddha's ( Shakyamuni) first sermon and the teaching of the Four Noble Truths. Chokhor refers to Tibetan prayer wheels, both the big ones in temples and small ones held in the hands of pilgrims; Duchen means turning.

On this day, Tibetan Buddhists make pilgrimages to holy places, offering incense and hanging prayer flags. The benefit of any virtuous action, including the recitation of mantras, is believed to increase 10 million times when performed on this anniversary.

Any day is a good day to earn merit, but thought this might be a good note to help encourage us all.

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The "Dharma Group" at Squidoo is home to many lenses that are Dharma related - click on the Buddhist logo (left) to visit this group and it's lenses or to join the group. If you have a lens that is about Dharma (either Hindu or Buddhist), we would be thrilled to welcome it to this group.

If you are not a member of Squidoo and would like to know more about creating your own lenses, CLICK HERE to join Squidoo and start today. It's absolutely free, I promise.

Not sure what to make a lens about? How about YOU! A short biography of yourself is always a good way to start as a lensmaster. Or your dharma work would make a great topic. That should take about 5 minutes to begin, but you can come back to it and add to it over and over again.