By Acharya Judith Simmer-Brown // (Excerpted from Article in Bodhi Magazine, October 2002) After the awakening, a radiant Buddha remained seated under the Bodhi tree for seven weeks, enjoying the bliss of emancipation.  According to legend, the Indian god Brahma was concerned that he would pass into oblivion and appeared to the Buddha, supplicating him to teach what he had discovered.  But the young Shakyamuni hesitated; the truth that he had found was “deep, difficult to see, difficult to understand.”  How could he possibly communicate his insight into the nature of reality in a way that could be helpful to others?  The divine Brahma continued his request; if the Awakened One did not attempt to teach others the way to awakening, the entire world would be left in the grip of despair and torment.  How could the awakening be complete without the Buddha’s compassion? Moved by the supplication of the great god, Shakyamuni resolved to share his experience with others and to lead them to awakening.  Remembering five companions with whom he had practiced austerities, …