# How do we know Budda was enlightend? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 27, 2002, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-know-budda-was-enlightend/125821 "2002-08-27T19:31:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![furnishesq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/977dab/32.png) [@furnishesq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furnishesq)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2002, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-know-budda-was-enlightend/125821/1 "2002-08-27T19:31:00Z")
Before I am accused of posting on the wrong board. . . 1. I am not debating what “enlightned” means 2. For this question only , I am assuming there was a Budda who claimed to be enlightned. 3. I am asking those who know a little bit about Buddism doctrine how that doctrine states Budda proved that he received true enlightenment. Did he just say he did or did he prove it in some way? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Kentzel-Griffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ccd318/32.png) [@John\_Kentzel-Griffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Kentzel-Griffin)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2002, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-know-budda-was-enlightend/125821/2 "2002-08-27T20:30:16Z")
Did Budda have the Budda-nature? ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2002, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-know-budda-was-enlightend/125821/3 "2002-08-27T21:01:36Z")
In Buddhist thought an “enlightened” person can only be truly recognized by another enlightened person. In the Pali Canon(considered the most ancient of surviving Buddhist texts) there are many examples where Siddartha Gautama pointed the way for others to become enlightened and these people held the Buddha to be enlightened and to have “shown them the way” so to speak. So it comes down to: we know the Buddha was enlightened because it says so in the accounts of his life. ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2002, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-know-budda-was-enlightend/125821/4 "2002-08-27T21:50:09Z")
Isn’t this kind of like asking: How do we know Jesus was the Messiah? or how do we know Mohammed was a prophet? At some point, it all comes down to faith. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2002, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-know-budda-was-enlightend/125821/5 "2002-08-27T22:34:37Z")
Of course in Buddhism you are not really required to have “faith” in the Buddha(outside of Pure Land Buddhism), merely in the idea that enlightenment is possible. Buddhism is meant to be a method of enlightenment not an act of worship. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2002, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-know-budda-was-enlightend/125821/6 "2002-08-27T23:38:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DrMatrix \* > \*\*Did Budda have the Budda-nature? \*\* Mu ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2002, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-know-budda-was-enlightend/125821/7 "2002-08-28T03:41:24Z")
> [@](#): > > The correct answer is _Mooooo_, uttered in a sort of plaintive bellow. In the interest of perfect technical accuracy I should mention that the conventional spelling is _Mu_, which is Zen Buddhist for “a question too dumb to be worth answering.” However, _Mooooo_ works better for us midwesterners. > [http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1\_049](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_049) ---
**Author:** ![furnishesq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/977dab/32.png) [@furnishesq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furnishesq)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2002, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-know-budda-was-enlightend/125821/8 "2002-08-28T14:52:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bibliophage \*The correct answer is Mooooo, uttered in a sort of plaintive bellow. In the interest of perfect technical accuracy I should mention that the conventional spelling is Mu, which is Zen Buddhist for “a question too dumb to be worth answering.” However, Mooooo works better for us midwesterners. > [http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1\_049](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_049) > > * * * * * * Thanks for all of your answers. The best answer was “Doe Budda have the Budda nature” Which is a great koan and which , quite frankly, I should have known was coming! It is also a beautful answer. Mu – it is a beautiful answer as well. Although I disagree with the “a question to dumb to be worth answering” On the contrary, a koan is a question that deserves an answer – but can only be answered by meditative contemplation and coming up with an enlightend answer – which Mu is.