ATTAINMENT OF ENLIGHTENMENT

Seated under the Bodhi tree Bodhisattva Siddhartha began to think deeply on the problem of life and the solution for it. He found that is mind was not calm. Then he remembered how as a child he meditated on the day of the ploughing ceremony. He remembered the calm and peaceful experience he had. He felt that meditation is the best path to follow. He decided to follow the path of meditation; and with confidence he began to meditate earnestly. It was late in the evening. The sun was about to set completely. A thick veil of darkness was gradually enveloping the banks of Neranjara. In the darkness the tall trees slightly swaying in the wind appeared like dreadful ghosts. The screeching and the heavy flapping of wings of bats added to the eeriness. The rustling of dry leaves made the surrounding very tense. The Bodhisattva sat determined not to rise up. He kept on trying to control the mind. As he kept on trying he found his mind gradually becoming free from desire for sensual enjoyment and ill-will. The drowsy-laziness that made the mind inactive gradually disappeared. Restlessness and disturbance as well as doubt ceased. When freed of these hindrances the mind became supple and manageable. It was the night of the full moon. The bright golden disc of the moon appeared in the eastern sky. The cool, soothing rays of the moon washed off the veil of darkness. In the moonlight the trees appeared as if dressed in gold. The Bodhisattva found that his mind was able to reason out and keep on investigating. With drowsy-laziness gone he found his mind active. There was a feeling of delight and joy in him. He was able to concentrate well. As he meditated further the mind developed step by step. As the mind developed, first to cease were reasoning and investigation; this was followed by delight and then by joy. Finally his mind became balanced and concentrated. When the mind was in this state he was able to see clearly the existence of suffering (Dukkha), the origin (samudaya) of suffering, the ending (Nirodha) of suffering and finally the path (Magga) leading to the ending of suffering. When he saw these four Noble Truths clearly knowledge arose in him. His mind became completely free of desire (Raga), hatred (Dosa) and ignorance (Moha). Bodhisattva became Enlightened, and since then he was called the Buddha – the Enlightened One. The Buddha became popularly known by his family name Gautama (Gotama), and was addressed as Gutama, the Buddha.