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Buddha

vr.tr.buddha · thing-q7055

Let an agent explain the concept of a Buddha and its use for Gautama and other Buddhas, relay the teachings and lists of Buddhas as the traditions present them, describe epithets and iconography respectfully, and distinguish the title from the historical person, from bodhisattvas and arhats, and from popular depictions such as the laughing Budai.

Thing Registry Society, people and institutions SOC.PER
Bundle → Layer → Finding → QuestionsClassifiersWhat it isWhy it existsDistinguishing featuresWhat robots and AI may and may not doMoral aspectsOwnersLinks to other meta-modelsIdentity and identifiersDirect propertiesRecognitionCapabilities and actionsHazards and failure modesStandards and interfacesContext of useSources

Bundle → Layer → Finding → Questions Filled

4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions

Understand What a Buddha is.

Definition

Definition.

Definition

Definition.

  1. What is a Buddha, and how does the title differ from bodhisattva, arhat and the figure of Budai? definition
  2. Is the question about the concept, the historical Buddha, a specific Buddha or iconography? boundary

Buddhas

Buddhas of the traditions.

Buddhas

Buddhas.

  1. Who are the Seven Buddhas of the Past, Maitreya and the celestial Buddhas, as the traditions describe them? definition
  2. Which entry fits the specific Buddha? action
Gautama The historical Buddha.

Life

Life.

Life

Life.

  1. What do the traditions and historians say about the life of Siddhartha Gautama, with positions attributed? provenance
  2. Which references are standard? provenance

Teaching

Teaching.

Teaching

Teaching.

  1. What are the core teachings attributed to the Buddha, such as the Four Noble Truths? provenance
  2. Which sources are cited? provenance
Concept Buddhahood and epithets.

Buddhahood

Buddhahood.

Buddhahood

Buddhahood.

  1. How do Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana understand Buddhahood and samyaksambuddha, as each states? provenance
  2. Is the presentation respectful and attributed? boundary

Epithets

Epithets and iconography.

Epithets

Epithets.

  1. What do Tathagata, nyorai, the ushnisha and the thirty-two marks signify? provenance
  2. Which entry fits Buddhist iconography? action
Context Culture and respect.

Culture

Art and culture.

Culture

Culture.

  1. How is the Buddha represented in art across Asia? provenance
  2. Which entry fits Buddhist art? action

Respect

Respectful use.

Respect

Respect.

  1. What do Buddhist communities ask regarding images and depictions of the Buddha? provenance
  2. Which entry fits Buddhism? action

Classifiers Filled

Family
Thing Registry
Category
Society, people and institutions
Entry kind
thing
Plane
SOC
Domain
SOC.PER
Other names and narrower kinds
Tathāgata, Bhīṣmagarjitasvararāja Buddha, Buddhoṣṇīṣa, nyorai, Samyaksambuddha, Seven Buddhas of the Past

What it is Filled

In Buddhism, a fully awakened being who has attained complete enlightenment, a samyaksambuddha, the title applied above all to Siddhartha Gautama, the historical founder of Buddhism, and also to the Buddhas of the past such as the Seven Buddhas, to future Buddhas such as Maitreya, and to the many Buddhas of Mahayana cosmology including Bhismagarjitasvararaja, with epithets such as Tathagata, the Japanese nyorai, and iconographic features such as the cranial protuberance or ushnisha; Buddhist traditions describe Buddhahood in different ways, which the model reports as the traditions state them.

Why it exists Filled

Let an agent explain the concept of a Buddha and its use for Gautama and other Buddhas, relay the teachings and lists of Buddhas as the traditions present them, describe epithets and iconography respectfully, and distinguish the title from the historical person, from bodhisattvas and arhats, and from popular depictions such as the laughing Budai.

Distinguishing features Filled

  • Complete awakening
  • Title and person
  • Many Buddhas in Mahayana
  • Iconographic marks

What robots and AI may and may not do Filled

Must not

  • Use images of the Buddha as decoration in ways Buddhists find offensive, such as on footwear or toilets.
  • Present one tradition's view as the only Buddhist view.
  • Mock the Buddha or Buddhist belief.
  • Speak in the Buddha's name or invent teachings attributed to him.

Only with a human decision

  • Publishing images or statues of the Buddha in commercial products.

May

  • Explain the meaning of Buddha in different Buddhist traditions with sources.
  • Describe the life of Siddhartha Gautama, distinguishing history from tradition.
  • Help visitors understand respectful conduct around Buddha images.

Moral aspects Filled

  • The Buddha is revered by hundreds of millions; disrespect wounds believers.
  • Fabricated quotations attributed to the Buddha spread widely.

Who is affected

  • Buddhist communities
  • Monks and nuns
  • Students of religion

Owners Filled

Steward

Nobody owns the figure; Buddhist communities hold the traditions about him.

Links to other meta-models Filled

parent

  • Q18563354 - registry parent class
  • Q4271324 - registry parent class
  • Q4802582 - registry parent class

related

  • religious character - in registry terms
  • arya - a noble one in registry terms
  • Gautama Buddha - the historical founder
  • bodhisattva - a being on the path to Buddhahood

What else AI and robots need to interact with it Filled

Identity and identifiers required Filled

  • Vercy registry: vr.tr.buddha
  • Wikidata: Q7055 (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7055)

Direct properties not applicable Not applicable

  • Gautama Buddha lived: about 5th century BCE period - dates debated
  • Seven Buddhas of the Past: 7 count - Vipassi to Gautama
  • thirty-two marks: 32 count - traditional physical characteristics

Plane SOC: no invented physical properties.

Recognition optional Filled

  • Fully awakened being in Buddhism
  • Gautama Buddha, Tathagata, samyaksambuddha, Seven Buddhas of the Past, nyorai, ushnisha
  • A bodhisattva is on the path; an arhat is liberated but not a Buddha; Budai is a Chinese monk figure
  • Depicted in statues and paintings with ushnisha, elongated ears and symbolic hand gestures.

Capabilities and actions required Filled

  • explain the concept
  • relay traditions and lists
  • describe epithets and iconography
  • distinguish related figures

Hazards and failure modes required Filled

  • Disrespectful or commercial use of Buddha imagery
  • Confusing Gautama with Budai or other figures
  • Presenting one tradition s view as the only one

Standards and interfaces required Filled

  • No regulation; laws in some countries on respectful treatment of Buddha images

Context of use required Filled

  • Not applicable; a religious title and figure.
  • the historical Buddha Gautama
  • Buddhas of the past including the Seven Buddhas
  • future Buddhas such as Maitreya
  • celestial Buddhas of Mahayana such as Amitabha and Bhismagarjitasvararaja
  • the concept of Buddhahood in Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana

Sources Filled

  1. Wikidata item Q7055: Buddha - identity and sense of the item
  2. Wikipedia: Buddha (title) - general description of the item

Open questions

  • Should Gautama Buddha and Buddhahood be separate primary entries?
  • How should Buddhist studies sources be linked?
  • The registry entry has merged aliases naming epithets, specific Buddhas and an iconographic feature; should they be split off?

Machine files

Card as JSON Specification Card backlog vercy.card/1

Provenance

thing registry research (pass 2) · unreviewed

Built from: models/things/publications/thing-q7055/spec.json