Download The Buddha, Enlightenment and Buddhist beliefs The Buddha

The Buddha, Enlightenment and Buddhist beliefs
The Buddha
Theravada Buddhism shares many common beliefs with Mahayana Buddhism, and both
follow the teachings of the Buddha. Both teach that Siddhartha Gautama was an ordinary
human who became enlightened and achieved the title the Buddha when he discovered the
way to end suffering.
A person who has come to understand the true nature of life is said to be enlightened. A
buddha is an enlightened human being. Both Theravada and Mahayana Buddhists believe
that everyone has the capacity to become a buddha. Meaning that everyone has a buddha
nature – the potential to be enlightened. This means there has been buddhas in the past,
buddhas today and buddhas in the future. The Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama) is believed to
be the first buddha in history to have his life and teachings recorded. Theravada Buddhists
only accept the historical Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama) and past buddhas. Similarly,
Mahayana Buddhists accept the historical Buddha but also accept other contemporary
buddhas such as Amitabha and Medicine Buddha. Mahayana Buddhists also believe there
will be another Buddha as great as Siddhartha known as Maitreya.
Enlightenment
Theravada Buddhism emphasises attaining enlightenment through one's own efforts.
Meditation and concentration are vital elements of the way to enlightenment. The ideal
road is to dedicate oneself to full-time monastic life (become a Buddhist monk). In this
sense, Theravada Buddhism emphasises individual enlightenment. Conversely, Mahayana
Buddhism emphasises the enlightenment of all beings and the Mahayana ideal is to become
a bodhisattva (‘enlightened being’) who strives to liberate all beings from the cycle of birth
and death.
In Theravada Buddhism, a person who has completed the Noble Eightfold Path, destroyed
attachment and the Three Poisons, and overcome dukkha (suffering) is called an Arahant
(‘one who is worthy of respect’ or ‘perfect person’ having attained Nibbana). Theravada
teaches there is one Buddha in each age or aeon, and this is the person who discovers the
dhamma and teaches it to the world. Other beings of that age or aeon who attain
enlightenment are arahants. The Buddha of the current age is, of course, Siddhartha
Gautama, or the historical Buddha. To become an Arahant is therefore the goal of all
Theravadins. It is very difficult to become an Arahant, but Theravadins believe it is easier for
a monk (Bhikkhu) to become one than a Lay person as a lay believer cannot devote as much
time to spiritual training. So Theravada Buddhism stresses the importance of life in a
monastery. Contrastingly, the ideal in Mahayana Buddhism is to enable all beings to be
enlightened together, not only out of a sense of compassion, but because we cannot
separate ourselves from each other. Although many Mahayana Buddhists become monks or
nuns, there is less significance attached to the monastic life. All believers have equal access
to enlightenment, including lay people. Whereas the Theravadins see the Arahantship as the
ideal to be aimed at, Mahayanists have always claimed this state is too limited. For them it
is greater to become a buddha, and they believe that their teachings can and will lead
people to Buddhahood. In order to become enlightened Mahayana Buddhists follow the
path of the Bodhisattva, whereby a person delays his or hers own enlightenment for the
sake of helping others to it. Bodhisattva is a state of compassion, since it involves putting
other’s interests first. A Bodhisattva is basically a buddha-to-be. Mahayana Buddhists
believe the Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama) must have been a bodhisattva in his previous
lives, before he was a buddha. Mahayana Buddhists also believe there will be another
Buddha as great as Siddhartha known as Maitreya. If this is the case then this means the
future Buddha is already in the world of samsara (Cycle of rebirths) and could be anyone.
Therefore they believe it is important to treat everyone as though he or she is a potential
Buddha.
Buddhist beliefs about the Buddha and enlightenment
Theravada Buddhism
Mahayana Buddhism
BOTH