The True Nature of the Buddha's Enlightenment : หน้า 8/263

the Buddha’s enlightenment dealt entirely with meditation focussed outside the body. Then, as now, almost all success was attributed to ideas and strategies — but as a result of countless past lifetimes dedicated to true meditation, Siddhattha Gotama quickly recognized that all the forms of practice available, although advanced, were mere conceptualizing that could not lead to enlightenment or release from old-age, sickness or death. He realized that theory alone, in the hands of virtueless person would be as dangerous as a sword without a scabbard. Theory needed to go hand in hand with inner attainment of virtue to be a viable path to freedom from old age, sickness and death. It was for this reason that Siddhattha Gotama sacrificed his worldly life in order to discover not mere ‘concentration’, but full-factored meditation and insight as borne witness by the Mahācattārīsaka Sutta (M.iii.71ff.) which tells us that the sort of meditation the Buddha discovered at His enlightenment was supported by all the other factors of the Noble Eightfold Path — and could therefore be referred to as ‘Right Meditation’ [sammā samādhi], His enlightenment could not be attributed, as assumed by some, to mere reflection or theorizing. Those who assume that the Buddha gained enlightenment in the same way as Bāhiya Dārucīriya (i.e. by spontaneous enlightenment at the wayside) would be mistaken, because even Bāhiya Dārucīriya’s enlightenment can be traced back to the efforts made, sacrificing his life for meditation in previous existences.