12 - Arhats and Bodhisattva

Theravada Buddhism = Arhat

Mahayana = Bodhisattva

4 aspects of Mahayana buddhism:

  • A focus on compassion (Karuna) to balance wisdom (Prajna).

  • A new and extended Buddhology (ideas about the person and nature of Buddha) that saw the Buddha as a more glorious being and played down his historical side.

  • A more balanced view about the potential of lay Buddhists for spiritual development.

  • Deeper insight into the Buddha’s original teachings such as the ‘emptiness’ (sunyata) of all phenomena.

Becoming an Arhat:

  • an Arhat is a ‘perfected person’

  • When someone becomes an Arhat, they are no longer reborn when they die

  • They are freed from the suffering of existence in the cycle of birth and death - samsara.

  • they attain Nibbana

  • This is achieved by following the Eightfold Path and concentrating on wisdom, morality and meditation.

Arhats are NOT Buddhas -

“I have no teacher, and no one like me exists nowhere in the world… I am the Teacher Supreme. I alone am a Fully Enlightened One whose fires are quenched and extinguished.” - The Buddha

  • ^^ The Buddha was self-enlightened as he discovered enlightenment on his own rather than learning it from others

Sammasambuddha = Self-enlightened Buddha

The four stages of Awakening:

  1. Stream-winner

One experiences a timeless moment where there is no trace of a separate self anywhere. It is tremendously relieving and provides an unshakable confidence and dedication to the Buddhist spiritual path.

  1. Once-returner

A reminder of your new realisation of ‘no self’ and pay attention to what you remain attached to. Being a once-returner means a major reduction in suffering which can be seen in the replacement of hatred with occasional irritation.

  1. Non-returner

All of the worst hindrances, such as hatred, greed and ignorance completely drop away while a hint of self-sense remains with a trace of restlessness and dissatisfaction. This stage is simply a clearer recognition of what has already been seen twice before, rarely accompanied by emotion. Despite the peace and clarity this stage brings, one is still left with the slightest preference for positive than negative experiences.

  1. Arhat

Any trace of a separate self falls away for good. It is an experience of unimaginable bliss that leads to a life where circumstances no longer have a hold on you and you have no preference of positive and negative experiences. There is nothing left to realise, no more rebirths are necessary.

Bhodisattvas:

  • Sees their own enlightenment as bound up with the enlightenment of all beings

  • They therefore remain in the cycle of samsara in order to help others achieve enlightenment as well.

  • they combine being compassionate and wise - Mahayana Buddhists believe that Buddha’s teachings was to ‘go forth for the welfare of the many’

‘Bodhicitta’ = Buddha consciousness

Everyone has Bodhicitta but it must be stimulated by considering the suffering of others to arouse compassion.

the path to becoming a Bodhisattva consists of 10 Bhumis (stages) and each one is associated with developing a particular paramita (perfection).

Key 6:

  • generosity

  • morality

  • patience

  • energy

  • meditation

  • wisdom

Essay plan:

"The concept of arhat is more legitimate than the concept of bodhisattva." Evaluate this view  

Arhat is more legitimate:

  • Arhats are more legitimate because they are based on the original texts

  • Has a clear measurable path to take.

  • Arhats are completely free from the cycle of samsara. - which is the ultimate goal of Buddhism.

Bodhisattvas are more legitimate:

  • Bodhisattvas encourage the spreading of buddhism and enlightenment for others - BUT

  • Alignment with compassion

  • Overcoming ego

  • Arhats often become Bodhisattvas due to them ultimately not being able to reach enlightenment

1) A - The concept of Arhat is more legitimate because enlightenment and escaping samsara is the ultimate goal in buddhism and shouldn’t be delayed.

B - This can be seen when Buddha sat at the Bodhi tree and vowed to remain there until he reached enlightenment which meant that he escaped the cycle of samsara.

C - However, it could be argued that the ultimate goal of Buddhism is more about the cessation of suffering which the Boddhisattva path does more of by helping others achieve enlightenment.

B - The Four Noble requests that one ends suffering by following the path. The Eightfold path focuses more on the cessation of suffering rather than enlightenment.

D - Their goals are still the same - both to end suffering, they just have different approaches - so both are equally legitimate

2) A - The concept of Arhat is more legitimate due to Theravada Buddhism being older, more traditional and based on the original text, the Pali Canon. - Nikaya purism

B - The Pali Canon was written around the 1st century BCE after centuries of oral transmission, preserving the Buddha’s teachings as recited by his disciples after his passing. Mahayana was centuries later therefore Theravada Buddhism is likely more accurate to Buddha’s teachings.

C - Mahayana is a more advanced version of Buddhism with more developed teachings.

B - Ven. Bikkhu Bodhi points out that people often argue this.

D -

3) A -

B - The Four Noble Truths outline the importance of cessation of suffering through the eightfold path.

C - However, Compassion is a fundamental principle in Buddhism and foregoing Nirvana is the ultimate act of compassion/selflessness

B - “For those who wish to go across the water, May i be a boat, a raft, a bridge.” - Santideva

D -

"The concept of arhat is more legitimate than the concept of bodhisattva." Evaluate this view  

A - Theravada’s historical authority

B - The Pali Canon was written around the 1st century BCE after centuries of oral transmission, preserving the Buddha’s teachings as recited by his disciples after his passing. Mahayana was centuries later therefore Theravada Buddhism is likely more accurate to Buddha’s teachings.

C - Ven. Bikkhu Bodhi points out that Mahayana Buddhists argue that the Mahayana Sutras is more developed with more developed teachings therefore is actually a more legitimate source than the Pali Canon.

B - Ven. Bikkhu Bodhi

D - Arhat

A - Arhat has a clear path making the attainment of it more realistic - Bodhisattva is more symbolic

B - They focus on personal liberation and follow the four stages of awakening (stream-enterer, once-returner, non-returner, perfected one)

C - Bodhisattva prioritises universal compassion rather than individual liberation and compassion (Karuna) is a key principle in Buddhism.

B - “For those who wish to go across the water, may I be a boat, a raft, a bridge” - Santideva - highlights the importance of compassion and helping others achieve their goals.

D - Arhat is more legitimate as one can still help others after enlightenment throughout their life.

A - Arhat is more accurate to the Buddha’s teachings - He was self-enlightened - emphasises the importance of individual liberation.

B - This can be seen when Buddha sat at the Bodhi tree and vowed to remain there until he reached enlightenment which meant that he defeated the three poisons, escaping the cycle of samsara. + He was taught by real events in his life.

C - Buddha highlights the importance of ending suffering more than becoming enlightened - they both have the same goal just different approaches so are both equally legitimate

B - Four Noble Truths

D - Equal + Yangthang says that “whichever practice you choose doesn’t matter” and that all approaches are equally valid ways for achieving enlightenment.

Overall, I’d argue that the concept of Arhat is more legitimate as it is a more accurate manifestation of the Buddha’s teachings therefore follows more directly how a Buddhist should live.