[Buddha-l] Meditating Buddha

[Stefan Detrez]

Archetypical for Buddhist art is a meditating Buddha. However, one can
wonder WHY a Buddha has to meditate, assuming the he/she is enlightened, and
enlightenment excludes the necessity of (further) meditation.
This question popped in my mind rereading some suttas where brahmins want to
go and see the Buddha, but then are informed that 'it's not the proper time'
to pay the Buddha a visit, because he's meditating.

And then I thought of the reasons for the Sanghabeda, where Mahadeva
advanced characteristics of an Arhat, whose acceptance ran counter to the
stable and point-of-no-returnesque quality of a Buddha, as advanced by the
Theras.

You start to wonder whether a Buddha can relapse into humanity, when you see
him meditate.

Any thoughts?

Stefan
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