Pratyutpanna Sutra

[Aemilius]

First, thank you very much for your answer.



So, Buddhas cannot achieve Nirvana if they want to save beings?

I tought that being a Buddha was the same as being in Nirvana and while Nirvana, one can manifest to other beings in ways that may help them.

This is the kind of questions that always make me confused.

I think you understand it right. The point is made in Mahayana that the activity of Buddhas' to help beings appears effortlesly, like the moon's reflection in a pool of water appears effortlesly. This means that their help is not willed but happens automatically. It is called Unfixed Nirvana, apratisthita nirvana, to distinguish it from the sravakayana nirvana.

[Nosta]

I see. So, Buddha Shakyamuni cannot help us any more (in a direct way, but His teachings still prevail and thats a halp too), but Amitabha can help since he didnt achieve Nirvana (the final stage) yet.

[Will]

I see. So, Buddha Shakyamuni cannot help us any more...

No. Forget about nirvana.

All Buddhas & Bodhisattvas have resolved to help us over vast numbers of lifetimes. Their vows are so sincere and thus powerful, that they maintain an ability to always help all beings.

[sinweiy]

that say Buddhas, mahasattvas neither abide in samsara non nirvana. arhats abide in nirvana.

say if we are studing in a school and eventually need to graduate by passing the final exams. so some of them in order to help their fellow classmates, they delay passing the final exams. this i think represent the bodhisattvas, while those who graduated represent the arahats. and a real bodhisattva is one who HAS the ability to pass the final exams with flying colors but just that in order to stay in the class/school, they purposely delay passing the final exams.

Amitabha perhaps is one who "graduated" but return to the school as a teacher/principle.

aggregates could be a skillful mean for a Buddha/bodhisattva need to have in order to help sentient beings.
like wrathful bodhisattvas for example. an anger is made for the sake of sentient beings' realisation.

[LastLegend]

Nosta,

Nirvana of Arahants is different from Nirvana of Buddhas. Nirvana of Arahants is abiding and still within the 10 Dharma realms-6 (human, animal, hell, etc) still take rebirths, other 4 (Arahant, Prechy Buddha, certain Bodhisattvas, etc) don't take rebirths. Full complete Buddhas are Shakyumuni, Amitabha, Medicine, etc. Buddhas still help sentient beings, and they never stop.

[Aemilius]

Nosta,

Nirvana of Arahants is different from Nirvana of Buddhas. Nirvana of Arahants is abiding and still within the 10 Dharma realms-6 (human, animal, hell, etc) still take rebirths, other 4 (Arahant, Prechy Buddha, certain Bodhisattvas, etc) don't take rebirths. Full complete Buddhas are Shakyumuni, Amitabha, Medicine, etc. Buddhas still help sentient beings, and they never stop.

The scriptures say there is the last mental moment in the consciousness moments of an Arhant. Like there is the last moment of the flame of a candle. That sounds pretty final, doesn't it?
It is incorrect to say that an Arahant exists, or doesn't exist, both or neither. Same is true of Nirvana.

[LastLegend]

It is incorrect to say that an Arahant exists, or doesn't exist, both or neither. Same is true of Nirvana.

Where do Arahants abide if not in Nirvana?

There is clear difference between enlightenments of an Arahant and that of a full Buddha. So what you are trying to tell me here?

[Aemilius]

It is incorrect to say that an Arahant exists, or doesn't exist, both or neither. Same is true of Nirvana.

Where do Arahants abide if not in Nirvana?

There is clear difference between enlightenments of an Arahant and that of a full Buddha. So what you are trying to tell me here?

Nirvana is indescribable. We cannot usefully talk about it.

We can talk about different detergents, because we know about them in our own experience, because we have been washing dishes ourselves.

Even when you have attained birth in the four formless realms, it is difficult to locate your existence. Because you are infinite space, or infinite consciousness, etc...

And much more so with Nirvana, that is described by the four limits!

[Nighthawk]

I see. So, Buddha Shakyamuni cannot help us any more (in a direct way, but His teachings still prevail and thats a halp too), but Amitabha can help since he didnt achieve Nirvana (the final stage) yet.

Shakyamuni is said to have attained enlightenment aeons ago.

[Nosta]

This is a very beautiful sutra. I am translating it to portuguese since i dont find any portuguese version anywhere.

I am near the end of chapter 2, but i would like to know the meaning of the title os the sutra: Pratyutpanna Buddha Sammukhāvasthita Samādhi. What does that mean? I know the words Buddha and Samadhi , but not the others neither the complete meaning of the sentence.

Thanks.

[viniketa]

i would like to know the meaning of the title os the sutra: Pratyutpanna Buddha Sammukhāvasthita Samādhi. What does that mean? I know the words Buddha and Samadhi , but not the others neither the complete meaning of the sentence.

The Samādhi of Direct Encounter with Buddhas of the Present

[Aemilius]

i would like to know the meaning of the title os the sutra: Pratyutpanna Buddha Sammukhāvasthita Samādhi. What does that mean? I know the words Buddha and Samadhi , but not the others neither the complete meaning of the sentence.

The Samādhi of Direct Encounter with Buddhas of the Present

I don't think there is plural in the sanskrit Buddha. It has been previously translated as "Samadhi that is Established in the Presence of the Contemporary Buddha", by Luis O. Gomez in Land of Bliss: The Paradise of the Buddha of Measureless Light.

[Nosta]

Thank you!