The Significance of Donating Buddha Images : หน้า 202/207

examine this so that we will not miss the opportunity to do so. We should clearly understand the importance of contributing a Buddha image so that we do not obstruct our grandparents when they wish to perform such great merit. I would like to take this opportunity to share with you the benefits that result from such an act of merit. Our country's ancestors tended to donate Buddha images because they venerated the Lord Buddha's great compassion towards all beings. This would be a way of showing their gratitude towards Him. In Buddhist history, a person who is determined to become a Buddha (an Enlightened being) in the future, to free people from suffering, exists rarely in this world. This type of person is called a Bodhisatta.14 Bodhisattas who devoted their lives to spiritual perfections and successfully eradicated their defilements were an extremely rare occurrence. Some achieved their goals, and some gave up along the way. In order to attain Buddhahood, a Bodhisatta must devote his life to virtue. In one of his lifetimes, he must meet a Buddha who would assure him of his future Buddhahood and inform him of the length of time required to attain enlightenment as a Buddha. The Bodhisatta, who receives confirmation of his future Buddhahood by a Buddha, is called Niyata-Bodhisatta, meaning a person who will definitely attain enlightenment and become a Buddha in the future. After being informed by a Buddha, a Niyata- Bodhisatta must continue to pursue perfections for at least another four Asankheyya (infinite time) and 100,000 kappa (the cycle of birth and death of the world). This means he must continue in the cycle of existence for an immeasurable amount of time in order to attain Buddhahood. As he approaches this feat, the obstacles become more difficult, requiring the devotion of his entire being to eradicate his impurities and increase his divinity. Since this is extremely difficult, the Lord Buddha once gave the following analogy: The number of times He donated His eyes to help others in order to become enlightened is greater than all the stars in the sky. To devote one's entire being towards reaching enlightenment is rare because of this lengthy process. After becoming enlightened, He will spend the rest of his days spreading His knowledge of the truth (Dhamma) to everyone. Those who follow His teachings and practice Dhamma diligently can attain enlightenment and reach Nibbana. Thus, the people who are born during the Buddha's life and successfully attain enlightenment are highly fortunate.