Buddha means Enlightened one.

Back in the day, when I had a bit of cash, I used to love getting a manicure. Way back in the day :) As a practicing Buddhist, I sometimes wear jewelry with an Om or a Buddha. This is not to make any sort of I'm a Buddhist and you're not statement. It's just that when I do, I will find myself glancing at my reflection, or looking down at my hand, and will see the icon, and it reminds me to try to be good. Try. (I know, Yoda, there is no try there is just do.)

Anyhoo, back in the day, I lived in San Diego and there were many Asian Americans working in nail salons. As they would begin to work on me, invariably they would say, oh, Buddha! I am Buddha, you Buddha too?  At the time, I took it as language limitation, lost in translation kind of thing. 

Then, I pondered. It's good to ponder, makes things make sense, sometimes.

One translation of "Namaste" is: "The Divinity within me perceives the Divinity within you." Or, the Buddha within me perceives and the Buddha within you.

So, now I believe that is what was meant! Perhaps not, but that's how I feel, so there.

J.C. Cleary, a Buddhist author once wrote: "Buddha is the name for the one reality that underlies all forms of being, as well as an epithet for those who witness and express this reality. According to Buddhist teaching, all people possess and inherently enlightened True nature that is theri real identity. Bu bdcoming mindful of Buddha, therefore, people are just regaining their own real identity. They are remembering their own Buddha nature." 

Isn't that neat! You know, it's great when I meet a fellow Buddhist and we say "namaste". But..could you hand me that soap box over there?

Wouldn't it be great if even when meeting a non-Buddhist, or even if we don't know if they are or not, we could recognize the Buddha in them by saying, "Hey", "Hi", "Hello", "Thank You", "Can I have $20.00 of gas on pump 9?"

Because, oh, you Buddha too!

Sending Love, Light and Laughter,

Star