Question

When referring to the 3 Jewels/Refuges/Treasures, what can be understood as 'The Buddha'?

1) The enlightened one who attained Nirvana
2) The founder of Buddhism
3) The teacher who guides others on the path to enlightenment
4) All of the above

Answer 1

In Buddhism, 'The Buddha' refers to the enlightened one who attained Nirvana (Siddhartha Gautama), the founder of Buddhism, and the teacher guiding others to enlightenment. Thus, the answer is 'All of the above'.

Step-by-step explanation:

When referring to the 3 Jewels/Refuges/Treasures in Buddhism, 'The Buddha' can be understood as:

1. The enlightened one who attained Nirvana.
2. The founder of Buddhism.
3. The teacher who guides others on the path to enlightenment.

Therefore, the correct answer is 4) All of the above. Siddhartha Gautama, after a profound spiritual journey and experience under the sacred fig tree where he achieved enlightenment, became known as the Buddha, or 'the enlightened one'. He founded the religion of Buddhism and shared his teachings, leading others along the path to enlightenment, making him also the teacher and guide for his followers. The word 'Buddha' itself means 'the Awakened One'.