Dhamma Wheel Buddhist Forum

Is there a path to Buddhahood, rather than Arhatship outlined in Theravada?

What would be the different form your view and why would one choose Buddhahood rather than Arahantship? Maybe the answers answer the question.

ccharles wrote:Is there a path to Buddhahood, rather than Arhatship outlined in Theravada?

In orthodox Theravada, yes.

Well I'm not too grounded on the differences honestly, however I've read that "Buddhahood" is supposedly the highest form of enlightenment (whether or not this is true, I don't know) , and I'm interested in learning more about that path. If you can share your knowledge on the differences as well I would greatly appreciate it.

ccharles wrote:Well I'm not to grounded on the differences honestly, however I've read that "Buddhahood" is the highest form of enlightenment, and I am interested in possibly taking that path. If you can share your knowledge on the differences as well I would greatly appreciate it.

The "enlightenment" -- bodhi -- of the arahant is no different from that of the Buddha.

Thanks for the info. If the "enlightenment" or bodhi is the same than what are the differences?

ccharles wrote:Thanks for the info. If the "enlightenment" or bodhi is the same than what are the differences?

According to Orthodox Theravada, Buddha has fulfilled more paramis and is first arisen arahant in the period when Buddhasasana is not found.

Arahants on other hand, study existing Dhamma and don't have to go that far.

ccharles wrote:Thanks for the info. If the "enlightenment" or bodhi is the same than what are the differences?

What would be the different for you?

I wondered if becoming a Buddha would help the maximum number of beings achieve liberation in the shortest amount of time, as compared to an arhat.

Does it seems to you, or is it something you have been told?

I have not been told this personally, I was just wondering

I think it's important to know exactly what is meant by Buddha, or Arahant, or Bodhisattvas. Unfortunately, these cannot be summarized in a few lines. Bhikkhu Bodhi wrote a great article on this exact topic. Definitely a good read and I'd strongly recommend it..

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/auth ... ttvas.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

ccharles wrote:I have not been told this personally, I only know what I know through a bit of research on the issue.

So told via reading what was written. What is your opinion to it and maybe more important, what would be your intention behind it (for expample the desire to attain Buddhahood)? What is behind, deep inside of such a desire?

ccharles wrote:Thanks for the info. If the "enlightenment" or bodhi is the same than what are the differences?

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There is a nice article: Between Arhat and Bodhisattva - Finding the Perfect Balance (guess that the Buddhahood stands often for the supercream ideal of liberator (which is mentioned in the term of Bodhisattva and fits well to western ideas of compassion)

Don’t be an arahant, don’t be a bodhisattva, don’t be anything at all—if you are anything at all you will suffer.” —Ajahn Chah