Not Even By a Buddha

Periodically, I am asked why the Buddha—an awakened being with perfect compassion and wisdom—does not end the suffering in our world. Why he doesn't help us.

The Buddha knew the problems of humanity. He had experienced them. But he overcame those problems. He awoke through the practice of morality, concentration, and wisdom. He experienced the truth of the cosmos. He found the path to awakening and left clear guidelines to enable us to follow after him. But that was all he could do—leave guidelines.

As compassionate as Buddhas are, they are unable to go against the natural laws of the universe. They know the truth. And they know the natural laws that govern the universe cannot be changed. Not even by a Buddha. So, as much as they want to help us, Buddhas cannot undo what we have already set into motion.

I created my life. Only I can change it. You created your own life. Only you can change it. Others created their lives. Only they can change their lives. Our lives today are the direct result of what we thought, what we said, and what we did in our yesterdays. As we have learned, our todays, just like our yesterdays, are lived in a world engulfed in greed and anger, a world enveloped in ignorance and delusion. A world created by all of us. A world that can only be changed by each one of us.