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shakyamuni = Buddha or the Buddha?

4 posts · started by lian hua dance on 01/07/03 at 21:22:03 · last post 01/08/03 at 20:25:05
lian hua dance01/07/03 at 21:22:03#1
:)
Well, my question was in the title, but I will restate it -
when talking about Shakyamuni, do we have a standard? Two options:  Buddha and the Buddha.
I like "the Buddha", but cannot say that one is right or wrong, it is only what I am used to.
dance
Luljeta01/08/03 at 16:24:11#2Re: shakyamuni = Buddha or the Buddha?
Hi Dance,

I don't think we need a standard for this.  Use either depending on the context of the article.

However, I think that when we use "the Buddha," just about everybody knows it refers to Shakyamuni Buddha.

If you're working on a long article that mentions Buddha's name several times, then use it this way after first introducing the Buddha in the beginning.  

I didn't do that on purpose, ha ha...

Lu
lian hua dance01/08/03 at 17:25:07#3Re: shakyamuni = Buddha or the Buddha?
:)
I found myself as an editor changing "Buddha" to "the Buddha", and realized maybe I shouldn't be.

I have, since posting, realized the origin of my prejudice -
"Buddha" is frequently misused by westerners who think that Buddha was some guy's name, like Jesus or Mohammed, not his title.

dance
Luljeta01/08/03 at 20:25:05#4Re: shakyamuni = Buddha or the Buddha?
lian hua dance wrote (01/08/03 at 17:25:07):
author=lian hua dance link=board=help;num=1042003324;start=0#2 date=01/08/03 at 17:25:07



I think you're right about that!
Dharma and dharma →