Re: All Sentient Beings are equal?
Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2011 4:38 pm
LastLegend wrote:Are all sentient beings equal? Based on what are they equal?
Is possible to discuss this?
What do you mean by "equal"?
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LastLegend wrote:Are all sentient beings equal? Based on what are they equal?
Is possible to discuss this?
This is both true and false. Not all beings are deluded and ignorant: there are Mahasiddhas, Arhats and Bodhisattvas out there you know! The second part is true for beings that have not overcome dualism.Dexing wrote:All sentient beings are equal in their being deluded and ignorant. That is why they perceive each other as inferior or superior.
We can do this too with a little practice!Buddhas perceive all sentient beings as equal even to a Buddha, insofar as they possess the virtuous qualities for the Tathāgata.
Very true!It is merely due to their habit of conceptualization and grasping that deluded sentient beings are ignorant of this and create all sorts of dualities and unnecessary suffering and difficulty.
There has to be rules in governing an organisation, even a Sangha. It would appear that there even has to be a hierarchy (head monk, senior monks, novice monks, laity) with different rules and expectations of them all. However, it does not imply that some are worth more than others or some are fundamentally different from others.David N. Snyder wrote:All equal, in that all have Buddha nature.
But . . . . there does appear to be some hierarchy:
Buddha / Arahant (Killing a Buddha is one of the offenses making you ineligible for enlightenment in this life and destined for a hell realm in the next)
Humans (a parajika offense requiring expulsion from the Order for killing a human)
Large, Royal animals, such as elephants, lions, tigers (not allowed to be eaten even if offered)
Smaller animals (their flesh may be eaten, if offered to monks, nuns)
Insects (no prohibition for building construction and farming even though they may be killed indirectly)
Lotus sutra has used a word "vehical"LastLegend wrote:Then why don't I see that a chicken is equal to me?Kyosan wrote:I'm not sure whether they are equal but if I understand the scriptures correctly, all sentient beings have the Buddha nature and all sentient beings hear the Buddha dharma.
How you are defining "vehicle" and how the Lotus Sutra uses it seem quite different.ram peswani wrote:Lotus sutra has used a word "vehical"LastLegend wrote:Then why don't I see that a chicken is equal to me?Kyosan wrote:I'm not sure whether they are equal but if I understand the scriptures correctly, all sentient beings have the Buddha nature and all sentient beings hear the Buddha dharma.
If one separates ego one sees only a vehical ( developement and expansion of different bodies in physical body)
Vehical size of chicken is very small and that of human being is bigger. Every human also has different size of vehical.
A human can do more or has a better chance at becoming an Arhat, Bodhisattva, or Buddha. I think that's what vehicle means the way you described it. Also it has to do with forms-it is hard for a chicken or a cow to learn Buddhism. For a human, it is easier.ram peswani wrote:Lotus sutra has used a word "vehical"LastLegend wrote:Then why don't I see that a chicken is equal to me?Kyosan wrote:I'm not sure whether they are equal but if I understand the scriptures correctly, all sentient beings have the Buddha nature and all sentient beings hear the Buddha dharma.
If one separates ego one sees only a vehical ( developement and expansion of different bodies in physical body)
Vehical size of chicken is very small and that of human being is bigger. Every human also has different size of vehical.
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Easy for a human to learn the dharma? - hmm. Are you sure about that?LastLegend wrote:ram peswani wrote:LastLegend wrote:A human can do more or has a better chance at becoming an Arhat, Bodhisattva, or Buddha. I think that's what vehicle means the way you described it. Also it has to do with forms-it is hard for a chicken or a cow to learn Buddhism. For a human, it is easier.
Well not all human are willing to learn. But lets compare me as a person who's willing to learn Buddhism. So you think a cow can learn Buddhism better me? So our form as a human is a vehicle that has potential more than a cow.KwanSeum wrote:Easy for a human to learn the dharma? - hmm. Are you sure about that?
There are cases of talking birds that have been reborn in Pure Land from reciting Amitabha.Madeliaette wrote:Having closely observed many pigeons for several years, I think some creatures other than human can learn/live Buddhism. (or maybe I just met a few Bodhisattvas in the form of pigeons....?) They might not have identical mental faculties, but they still have that SAME 'continuum' as humans - I truly believe that some creatures are more able than others to use their mental features more than we give them credit.
I view the spider in the corner, my son in his room, the Queen in her palace and the bird on the windowsill as EQUAL in rights to live and be happy - but not equal in shape, color, form, size, or mental/physical ability, etc. (I think the question of equality differs dependant on the 'WHAT' is equal or not factor...)
LastLegend wrote:There are cases of talking birds that have been reborn in Pure Land from reciting Amitabha.Madeliaette wrote:Having closely observed many pigeons for several years, I think some creatures other than human can learn/live Buddhism. (or maybe I just met a few Bodhisattvas in the form of pigeons....?) They might not have identical mental faculties, but they still have that SAME 'continuum' as humans - I truly believe that some creatures are more able than others to use their mental features more than we give them credit.
I view the spider in the corner, my son in his room, the Queen in her palace and the bird on the windowsill as EQUAL in rights to live and be happy - but not equal in shape, color, form, size, or mental/physical ability, etc. (I think the question of equality differs dependant on the 'WHAT' is equal or not factor...)
I expect it would depend on what type of Buddhist practice you do. Buddhism has personally changed me from bug over-spraying to bug loving, screaming at mice to photographing them and appreciating them, etc. Different people practice different ways and different methods - but I find it helpful to focus on strengthening my compassion with insects and creatures. (IMO, I feel that - in general - humankind has done more damage than good on the planet, whereas the lesser intelligent creatures seem to have caused less damage to our 'shared home'. This makes me feel that I should respect and learn to live with other forms of life rather than irradicate them.)For example are we allowed to spray poisons to kill large numbers of insects or use mouse traps in a kitchen so that we do not become sick? And what steps should we take to help negate some of the Karma that we we aqiure for this type of action? Most troubleing of all, should we all be vegitarians expecialy in places like America and other developed contries that allow for a wide range of healthy food options without the need for meat?
Does it follow then that for the majority of people (many of which aren't even striving for Buddhahood) who will not achieve buddhahood have a lower value than those who are either striving or who will or have achieved this?tomamundsen wrote:If you mean "why would it be worse than to kill a fly, I would say that a human has the possibility of achieving buddhahood in this very lifetime. Whereas the fly will have to be reborn to achieve that.KwanSeum wrote:Why would it be worse to kill a fly?tamdrin wrote:Keep this in mind..
I believe it is worse karma to kill a human than to kill a fly... This would suggest that relatively all beings aren't equal..
Oooooo, an interesting conjecture! Yes, I think so. I vaguely recall reading sutras talking about how it is a graver offense to kill a bodhisattva than a normal human.KwanSeum wrote:Does it follow then that for the majority of people (many of which aren't even striving for Buddhahood) who will not achieve buddhahood have a lower value than those who are either striving or who will or have achieved this?