"Who are the various Buddhas?"

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I found this post in one of my favorite buddhist clubs. Unfortunately

it didn't give a source of the text. The same thinking applies no

matter which Master; Avatar we are talking about.

 

_/\_ Tat twam asi, Uma

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Paying homage to the Buddhas

 

Disciple asked:

Shifu, who are these various Buddhas that

living beings are paying homage to?

 

Shifu:

You can pick any Buddha you want for "refuge" purposes. And you

can pick no particular Buddha. You can just say "Buddha" in your

devotions.

 

Disciple:

With due respect, are you sure, shifu?

 

Shifu:

Son, Buddhas are only emblematic of our need for liberation;

thus they are differentiated according to laity's affinity.

 

Disciple:

Is there any supporting evidence, shifu?

 

Shifu:

The Lotus Sutra, in Chapter 2 ("Skillful means"), says:

"If any, even with distracted thought,

Shall enter a stupa or mausoleum

And recite Namo Buddhaya

[Homage to the Buddha] but once,

They have all achieved the Buddha Path."

 

Disciple:

What are the personifications of these Buddhas?

 

Shifu:

Son, according to the Chinese tradition:

1) Shakyamuni seems to appeal to people with more

patriarchal affinities.

2) Amituofo (Amida) became the hero-Buddha of the common folks

and still largely is.

3) Vairocana Buddha who *never speaks* but just radiates light.

4) Maitreya Buddha, the incoming buddha

(Maitreya = great compassion).

5) Kuan Shi Yin, the enlightened being who hears and responds to

those who suffer.

 

This means Amida, or Shakyamuni, or Vairochana, or Maitreya, or

Kuan Shi Yin or any other Buddha/Bodhisattva you can name. It also

means *all* Buddhas, or any *one* Buddha - named or not. The simple

act of "Homage to Buddha" means we have "achieved the Buddha Path."

 

Hence, we can take refuge in

 

(1) One Buddha, named or not

(2) Any Buddha, named or not

(3) No particular Buddha, just "Buddha"

(4) Any number of Buddhas, named or not

(5) All Buddhas/Bodhisattvas, with and/or without names

 

All practices are equal, are valid, and "achieve the Buddha Path."

This is what the Lotus Sutra is telling us.