Apr 24 2008
The Buddha within
With the annual event of Wesak – the celebration for Buddha’s birthday, comes the opportunity for us all to reflect on the Buddha nature. Buddha, literally translated, means: awakened one. Buddha remains to this day one of the most historical figures who have been a living example of this potential that abides in us all. We have the opportunity to consider the relationship we have to such iconic figures who serve as a reminder to us all of our higher potential and how to balance that with our own dedication to embracing the awakening source within us.
We may let our celebration remain one of idolization or one of invoking realization. Surely it is the latter that Buddha would like to see us all embracing.
Finding the tender balance of our spiritual quest is a necessary part of taking our own path in a manner that is authentic, empowering and embracing of all of the elements that support the journey of awakening. Naturally, embracing the great teachers and their 
teachings is a relevant part of our process today. And, the more we can invite such qualities that are alive with us in the here and now, the closer we are going to be to this authentic journey of unveiling. Understanding how to utilize the past examples in a way that points us into awakeful presence in the here and now is vital to our own enlightening. In this way our attention transcends our usual focus on the person or object that represents an attained state of awakening and leads us into the qualities we can learn to cultivate to unveil our own Buddha Within.
