The sixth honorific of Buddha is Lokavid, which means “Knower of the Worlds” or “World-knower.” It signifies the Buddha’s profound understanding of all realms of existences.

Meaning of Lokavid

Loka (World):

The term “world” in this context refers to the three realms of existence that encompass all beings:

1. Realm of Desire (Kamadhatu):
   This realm includes all the world entrapped in sensual engagement, where beings are deeply attached to sensory engagement. Hell, hungry ghost, animal, human, Asura, and Deva. Beings here are caught in a web of desires and trapped in this realm. In one can break free from sensory delights, one moves to higher realms
2. Realm of Form (Rupadhatu):
   The beings in this realm has form but are genderless. They abide in meditative states known as the first to fourth jhanas (absorptions). Their forms are subtle, and they are free from gross sensory cravings but still bound by attachment to existence.
3. Realm of Formlessness (Arupadhatu):
   Here, beings exist in highly refined states of deep meditative absorption, completely isolated in their individual meditation. They have transcended form, but their existence is still impermanent.

Vidū (Knower):

The Buddha, as Lokavid, has direct, complete knowledge of all three realms. His insight is not limited to understanding their structure but extends to their impermanent, unsatisfactory, and non-self nature.

Significance for Buddhists

1. Understanding Samsara:
   The Buddha’s mastery of the worlds includes recognizing the true nature of samsara (the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth). He sees the causes of suffering within these realms and how beings are trapped by their attachments. Unlike many spiritual traditions that idealize heavenly realms, the Buddha revealed their impermanence. Even the lofty heavens of the Form and Formless realms are not eternal; beings there eventually pass away and are reborn elsewhere. Some, even as rulers of these heavens, are subject to decay. This clarity underscores the urgency of striving for liberation beyond all realms.
2. Guiding Others:
   With this profound knowledge, the Buddha tailors his teachings to meet the diverse needs of sentient beings. Whether one is trapped in the cycle of sensory desires or complacent in higher realms of meditative absorption, the Buddha’s guidance helps them recognize suffering and the path to freedom.
3. Universal Wisdom:
   The title Lokavid reassures Buddhists that the Buddha’s teachings are comprehensive, encompassing the entirety of existence and not limited to human experience. This makes him a unique and trustworthy spiritual guide, as he transcends both ordinary and extraordinary states of being.
4. Encouragement for Practitioners:
   Lokavid serves as an inspiration for Buddhists to explore the true nature of existence through the Eightfold Path. By understanding the impermanence and interdependence of all realms, practitioners can cultivate insight and move toward liberation.

An Analogy: The Buddha as a Cosmic Cartographer

Imagine the Buddha as a cartographer who has mapped every terrain of existence. From the perilous mountains of suffering in the Desire Realm to the serene but impermanent valleys of the Form and Formless Realms, he has charted it all. His map reveals not only the landscape but the hidden traps and paths leading out. With this knowledge, he becomes the perfect guide, helping beings navigate toward the ultimate destination: liberation.

Conclusion

The honorific Lokavid encapsulates the Buddha’s unparalleled wisdom and insight into the nature of existence across all realms. For Buddhists, this title is a reminder of the Buddha’s reliability as a spiritual guide and an encouragement to explore the true nature of existence for themselves. Through understanding and practice, they too can traverse the path he has so carefully mapped, leading to freedom from the cycle of birth and death.

May all be well and happy.