“Buddha” is a Sanskrit word that means “fully awakened.” It refers not only to Shakyamuni, or Gautama, the founder of the teachings that came to be known as Buddhism. A powerful way to discover our own buddha-nature is to open ourselves to the external Buddha. With continual practice, our ordinary self-image gradually falls away and We learn instead to identify with our innate wisdom and compassion: our own Buddhahood. Before starting the meditation place the Thangka/painting of Shakyamuni .