What Was Special About Buddha?

Anecdotes

oi-Priya Devi

By Priya Devi

Friday, May 21, 2010, 16:40

What was that which was so special about Buddha, when He lived an ordinary life like all?

Osho narrates a short story that talks about the specialty of Buddha.

Once during meal time, Buddha put on His robe, took his bowl and entered the great town of Sravasti to beg his food. He begged from door to door and returned back to his place. After taking His food, he put away his robe and the bowl, washed His hands and feet, then organised His seat and sat down.

Subhuti, a great disciple of Buddha who was present there in the gathering, got up from his seat and uncovered his right shoulder. He went down on his right knee and with great respect, joined the palms in veneration and told the enlightened one, “It is very rare, O World Honoured One! It is very rare!"

Osho queries what is so rare about Buddha's actions which anybody and everybody did in their day to day life? What was the extraordinary thing that Subhuti identified in Buddha out of the very ordinary actions?

Subhuti could see that His master was totally present in whatever He did.

Osho says, Buddha washed His feet consciously, with awareness, knowing very well that 'These feet are not me'. Similarly he wears the robe with awareness of the fact, 'the body that adorns it is not me', 'the hunger is not me' etc.

Buddha was always rooted in His being. He was always in Samadhi no matter whatever the external actions were. The calmness that simply radiated was what meditation truly is! It arises from being constantly in total awareness, abiding in the self.

Osho says being in awareness will detach one from the false identification of oneself with the body, mind complex and will ultimately establish one in his true self .