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Sariputra

Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2013 8:10 am
by aylmert
As refered to the website
http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/history/db_01.htm

If Sariputra has attained Nirvana, why does the Buddha say this?

Buddha said: "Sariputra! I predict one day you will become a Buddha by the name of Pamaprabha. You will come to this world again to save all living beings and achieve the highest state of Buddhahood."

The Buddha describes the arahant as having transcended ‘the round of birth and death, they have destroyed the taints, lived the holy life, done what had to be done, laid down the burden, reached the ultimate goal, destroyed the fetters and become completely free, liberated through final knowledge’ (Majjhima Nikaya 1. 141).

Re: Sariputra

Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2013 8:35 am
by tiltbillings
aylmert wrote:
Buddha said: "Sariputra! I predict one day you will become a Buddha by the name of Pamaprabha. You will come to this world again to save all living beings and achieve the highest state of Buddhahood."
It is a Mahayana text, not a Pali Canon text. In other words, it reflects a much later doctrinal notion of the Mahayanists

Re: Sariputra

Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2013 8:52 am
by cooran
Hello aylmert,

This is the Theravada history of Sariputta:

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/auth ... el090.html

With metta,
Chris

Re: Sariputra

Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2013 2:21 am
by aylmert
So confusing.. Even by its own text.

Though Sariputra could not see, he could still hear. He then thought: "It is difficult to save all beings and be a Bodhisattva. I think I'd better concentrate on the practice of self-salvation!"
Just then many devas appeared in the sky. They said to Sariputra: "Don't be dejected. What has just happened is merely our arrangement to test your determination to practise the way of a bodhisattva. You should bravely progress and continue your practice."

Then,

As a chief disciple of the Buddha, I should also enter Nirvana before Buddha."So he asked the Buddha's permission to enter Nirvana first. After some explanation, he finally got the Buddha's consent and they prepared to return to his hometown to enter Nirvana.
Buddha said: "Sariputra! I predict one day you will become a Buddha by the name of Pamaprabha. You will come to this world again to save all living beings and achieve the highest state of Buddhahood."

Now, Is Ven. Sariputta an Arahant or a Bodhisattva? To enter Nirvana, we need to ask permission from the Buddha? What if the Buddha says No? I thought after attaining Arahantship, one will never crave to reborn in samsara world again.

Re: Sariputra

Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2013 2:36 am
by tiltbillings
aylmert wrote:So confusing.. Even by its own text.

Though Sariputra could not see, he could still hear. He then thought: "It is difficult to save all beings and be a Bodhisattva. I think I'd better concentrate on the practice of self-salvation!"
Just then many devas appeared in the sky. They said to Sariputra: "Don't be dejected. What has just happened is merely our arrangement to test your determination to practise the way of a bodhisattva. You should bravely progress and continue your practice."

Then,

As a chief disciple of the Buddha, I should also enter Nirvana before Buddha."So he asked the Buddha's permission to enter Nirvana first. After some explanation, he finally got the Buddha's consent and they prepared to return to his hometown to enter Nirvana.
Buddha said: "Sariputra! I predict one day you will become a Buddha by the name of Pamaprabha. You will come to this world again to save all living beings and achieve the highest state of Buddhahood."

Now, Is Ven. Sariputta an Arahant or a Bodhisattva? To enter Nirvana, we need to ask permission from the Buddha? What if the Buddha says No? I thought after attaining Arahantship, one will never crave to reborn in samsara world again.
This is all just very much later Mahayana stuff which has not a thing to do with the Theravada. It is Mahayana stuff that is designed to make the older forms of Buddhism look bad.

Re: Sariputra

Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2013 4:40 pm
by IanAnd
tiltbillings wrote:
aylmert wrote:So confusing.. Even by its own text.

Now, Is Ven. Sariputta an Arahant or a Bodhisattva? To enter Nirvana, we need to ask permission from the Buddha? What if the Buddha says No? I thought after attaining Arahantship, one will never crave to reborn in samsara world again.
This is all just very much later Mahayana stuff which has not a thing to do with the Theravada. It is Mahayana stuff that is designed to make the older forms of Buddhism look bad.
Besides that, it is just pure bunk. Anyone who can't muster enough insight to see through that deserves to be subject to psychological programming.

Anyone who would seriously think that he needs the permission of Gotama to "enter nirvana" (whatever that means to the observer), has just lost total control of their own mind. This is NOT what Gotama teaches. The Pali canon provides a more reasonable and accurate portrayal of what Gotama taught. Stick with that and you will be okay.

Re: Sariputra

Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2013 5:59 am
by aylmert
Just like a scientist asking permission from Einstein to discover new elements...