Types of Buddha
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In the mainstream Buddhist tradition (the various buddhist schools), two types of Buddha are generally recognized.
- Samyaksambuddha (Pāli: Sammāsambuddha), often simply referred to as Buddha)
- Pratyekabuddha (Pāli: Paccekabuddha),
These two types of Buddha both achieve Nirvana through their own efforts, without a teacher to point out the Dharma.
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[edit] Samyaksambuddha
Samyaksambuddhas (Pali: Sammasambuddha), also known in Mahāyāna as Bodhisattvabuddhas), gain Nirvana by their own efforts, and discover the Dhamma without having a teacher to point it out. They then lead others to enlightenment by teaching the Dhamma in a time or world where it has been forgotten or has not been taught before, because a Samyaksambuddha does not depend upon a tradition that stretches back to a previous Samyaksambuddha, but instead discovers the path anew. The historical Buddha, Gautama Buddha, is considered a Samyaksambuddha. See also the list of 28 sammasambuddhas, who were all sammasambuddhas.
Three variations can be distinguished in the way of achieving Samyaksambuddha-hood. With more wisdom (prajñādhika), with more effort (vīryādhika) or with more faith (śraddhādhika). Śākyamuni was a Prajñādhika (through more wisdom) Buddha. The next Buddha of this world, Maitreya (Pāli: Metteyya) will be a Vīryādhika (through more effort) Buddha.
[edit] Pratyekabuddha
Pratyekabuddhas (Pali: Pacceka Buddha) are similar to Samyaksambuddhas in that they attain Nirvāṇa without having a teacher. Unlike the Samyaksambuddha however, they do not teach the Dhamma that they have discovered. Thus, they also do not form a Saṅgha of disciples to carry on the teaching, since they do not teach in the first place.
In some works they are referred to as "silent Buddhas". Several comparatively new Buddhist scriptures (of later origin; after the Buddha's demise, like the Jātakas), show Pratyekabuddhas giving teachings. A Paccekabuddha can sometimes teach and admonish people, but these admonitions are only in reference to good and proper conduct (abhisamācārikasikkhā), not concerning Nirvana.
In some texts, they are described as 'one who understands the Dharma by his own efforts, but does not obtain omniscience nor mastery over the Fruits' (phalesu vasībhāvam).
[edit] Śrāvakas
Savaraks (hearers or followers) are not Buddhas, but have also attained Nirvana as a disciples of a Sammasambuddha. They are most frequently called Arahants (Noble One) or Ariyasavakas (Noble Disciple). These terms have slightly varied meanings but can both be used to describe the enlightened disciple. Anubuddha is a rarely used term, but was used by the Buddha in the Khuddakapatha[1] as to those who become Buddha's after being given instruction. Enlightened disciples attain Nirvana as the two types of Buddhas do. The most generally used term for them is Arahant.
After attaining enlightenment, Śrāvakas may also lead others to enlightenment, but cannot teach the Dharma in a time or world where it has been forgotten or has not been taught before, because their enlightenment is dependent on a tradition that stretches back to a Samyaksambuddha.
A rarely used word in the Khuddakpatha is Anubuddha, meaning someone who comes close to being a Buddha and is almost equal to a Buddha, but is still junior to him.
Some Mahayana scriptures (and one 12th century Theravadin commentary) use the term Shravakabuddha to describe the enlightened disciple. According to these scriptures there are 3 types of Buddhas. In this case, however, the common definition of the meaning of the word Buddha (as one who discovers the Dhamma without a teacher) does not apply any more.
[edit] Teaching and Studying
The types of Buddha do not correspond to a different Dhamma or truth; the truth discovered by them is one and the same. The distinctions are based solely on issues concerning studying and teaching. If one has a teacher who points out the Dhamma and one realises this Dhamma for oneself also, one is an Arahant (Śrāvaka). If one discovers the Dhamma without a teacher, and subsequently chooses to teach, one is a Sammasambuddha. If one discovers the Dhamma without a teacher and chooses not to teach one is a Paccekabuddha.
Within Mahāyāna traditions, the three types of Buddha correspond to different programs of skillful means (upāya) or expedient practices. Notably, chapter 3 of the Mahāyāna Lotus Sutra compares the three types of Buddha to three vehicles, namely a goat cart, a deer cart, and an ox cart. That discussion is followed by the statement about the Buddha that "First he preaches the three vehicles to attract and guide living beings, but later he employs just the Great Vehicle to save them." Mahāyāna sometimes also claims to transcend the three types of Buddha, rather than corresponding to a method for attaining status as one of the types.
Also in Theravada Buddhism one is warned against striving for the purpose of attaining some status, and it is further taught that the same Dhamma (truth or teaching) both attract, guides and saves living beings. No distinction in truths or teachings is being made (as is sometimes common in Mahayana), although not everyone is taught in the same way (people have different characters and inclinations).
[edit] References
- Simile and Parable, chapter 3 of the Lotus Sutra, translated by Burton Watson, 1994, Columbia University Press, online edition courtesy Soka Gakkai International
- The Bodhisattva Ideal in Theravada, Jeffrey Samuels, Philosophy East and West, v47, n3, July 1997, pp399-415
- The Paccekabuddha: A Buddhist Ascetic. Ria Kloppenborg. Brill, Leiden, Netherlands: 1974.
