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The Great Realization
With this new realization, Siddhartha bathed in the river Niranjana near Bodhagaya, in state of Bihar in Northern India.' Determined Siddhartha, then, sat in meditation on a grass mat under a Banyan tree and practiced one-pointed focused meditation. He continued this practice until he attained bodhi (enlightenment or Knowledge) at the age of 35. His inner heart radiated with the light of spiritual knowledge (brahmajnana). He realized the Truth and experienced Inner Peace (Shanti). This experience is known as “the Great Realization or Enlightenment” (Buddhahood). From that point on Siddhartha was known as Lord Buddha and Tathagata (literally, “thus gone like that”). Having attained Buddhahood, the all knowing state, Siddhartha Gautama spoke these words:
I have run through a course of many births looking for the maker of this dwelling (body) and have not found him. Painful is birth again and again. Now you are seen, O Builder of the house (body), you will not build the house again. All your rafters are broken, your ridgepole is destroyed, the mind, set on the attainment of nirvana (enlightenment) has attained the extinction of desires” (Dhammapada, Jaravaggo: 8 - 9)
Lord Buddha explained that the word “Buddha” means to be filled with unbounded knowledge as vast as the infinite space. He further said,
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