Compassion for buddhas and boddhisatvas
-
- Posts: 24
- Joined: Tue Apr 19, 2022 1:01 pm
Compassion for buddhas and boddhisatvas
Hi, l was wondering something. It is generally said you can reach liberation without boddhicitta, but not become a buddha or boddhisatva without it.
Are there texts or comentaries that says why that is? Like what is the science here at work for some realization not to occur without boddhicitta?
Are there texts or comentaries that says why that is? Like what is the science here at work for some realization not to occur without boddhicitta?
Re: Compassion for buddhas and boddhisatvas
You need bodhicitta to remove obstacles to omniscience.
Meditating on freedom from the four extremes alone only remove afflictive obstacles to passion and that is why it's the cause for liberation.
Meditating on freedom from the four extremes alone only remove afflictive obstacles to passion and that is why it's the cause for liberation.
Life is like a game, either you win or lose!
Life is like a fight, either you live or die!
Life is like a show, either you laugh or cry!
Life is like a dream, either you know or not!!!
Life is like a fight, either you live or die!
Life is like a show, either you laugh or cry!
Life is like a dream, either you know or not!!!
-
- Posts: 24
- Joined: Tue Apr 19, 2022 1:01 pm
Re: Compassion for buddhas and boddhisatvas
Ok thank you, but I am not sure if I follow?
What sorts of obstacles is it boddhicitta remove, that other meditations don't?
Re: Compassion for buddhas and boddhisatvas
Bodhicitta removes cognitive obstacles which are your environmentally induced and innate habits and tendencies that prevent you from knowing all phenomenons.Chinnamasta wrote: ↑Fri May 20, 2022 3:56 pmOk thank you, but I am not sure if I follow?
What sorts of obstacles is it boddhicitta remove, that other meditations don't?
The ten fetters that Theravada school refers to, corresponds to the doctrinally induced and nine innate sets of afflictive obstacles of emotion.
Life is like a game, either you win or lose!
Life is like a fight, either you live or die!
Life is like a show, either you laugh or cry!
Life is like a dream, either you know or not!!!
Life is like a fight, either you live or die!
Life is like a show, either you laugh or cry!
Life is like a dream, either you know or not!!!
Re: Compassion for buddhas and boddhisatvas
I heard in a lecture about Lamrim (Tsongkhapa) that Bodhicitta is the gate to becoming a Bodhisattva.
The wish for the benefit of all beings is the gate to realize Bodhicitta. I hope, I remembered that correctly.
The wish for the benefit of all beings is the gate to realize Bodhicitta. I hope, I remembered that correctly.
Re: Compassion for buddhas and boddhisatvas
According to Lord Tsongkhapa if I remember correctly,
Meditating on the freedom from four extremes, is the sharp knife severing all the wrong views and attachments.
Bodhicitta is the strong pushing force behind that sharp knife
Meditating on the freedom from four extremes, is the sharp knife severing all the wrong views and attachments.
Bodhicitta is the strong pushing force behind that sharp knife
Life is like a game, either you win or lose!
Life is like a fight, either you live or die!
Life is like a show, either you laugh or cry!
Life is like a dream, either you know or not!!!
Life is like a fight, either you live or die!
Life is like a show, either you laugh or cry!
Life is like a dream, either you know or not!!!
-
- Posts: 24
- Joined: Tue Apr 19, 2022 1:01 pm
Re: Compassion for buddhas and boddhisatvas
Ok, thanks. Just googled it and found this: http://www.acmuller.net/kor-bud/phil_of ... angui.htmlKai lord wrote: ↑Fri May 20, 2022 4:39 pmBodhicitta removes cognitive obstacles which are your environmentally induced and innate habits and tendencies that prevent you from knowing all phenomenons.Chinnamasta wrote: ↑Fri May 20, 2022 3:56 pmOk thank you, but I am not sure if I follow?
What sorts of obstacles is it boddhicitta remove, that other meditations don't?
The ten fetters that Theravada school refers to, corresponds to the doctrinally induced and nine innate sets of afflictive obstacles of emotion.
-
- Posts: 7885
- Joined: Wed May 29, 2013 6:13 am
Re: Compassion for buddhas and boddhisatvas
Without bodhicitta the liberation of a Shravakayana Arhat is possible.
But that entails a whole lot of renunciation—and many lifetimes.
But that entails a whole lot of renunciation—and many lifetimes.
1.The problem isn’t ‘ignorance’. The problem is the mind you have right now. (H.H. Karmapa XVII @NYC 2/4/18)
2. I support Mingyur R and HHDL in their positions against lama abuse.
3. Student: Lama, I thought I might die but then I realized that the 3 Jewels would protect me.
Lama: Even If you had died the 3 Jewels would still have protected you. (DW post by Fortyeightvows)
2. I support Mingyur R and HHDL in their positions against lama abuse.
3. Student: Lama, I thought I might die but then I realized that the 3 Jewels would protect me.
Lama: Even If you had died the 3 Jewels would still have protected you. (DW post by Fortyeightvows)
-
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Wed May 18, 2022 5:46 pm
Re: Compassion for buddhas and boddhisatvas
I think that even someone Aline on a island, in thé deep of a chasm, a cave, a cavern Can have a " boddhicita " view and Can live a awakening and become a boddhisatva.
-
- Posts: 6
- Joined: Mon May 23, 2022 10:35 pm
Re: Compassion for buddhas and boddhisatvas
I think a Buddha is basically an extroverted arahat. They have the desire to teach and spread their wisdom. While most people are more introverted and self centered.
Re: Compassion for buddhas and boddhisatvas
Because wishing to save infinite beings from infinite sufferings creates the infinite merit necessary for complete Enlightenment. Nagarjuna talks about this in Bodhisambharasastra, but I don't remember the verse number.
Equanimity is the ground. Love is the moisture. Compassion is the seed. Bodhicitta is the result.
-Paraphrase of Khensur Rinpoche Lobsang Tsephel citing the Guhyasamaja Tantra
"All memories and thoughts are the union of emptiness and knowing, the Mind.
Without attachment, self-liberating, like a snake in a knot.
Through the qualities of meditating in that way,
Mental obscurations are purified and the dharmakaya is attained."
-Ra Lotsawa, All-pervading Melodious Drumbeats
-Paraphrase of Khensur Rinpoche Lobsang Tsephel citing the Guhyasamaja Tantra
"All memories and thoughts are the union of emptiness and knowing, the Mind.
Without attachment, self-liberating, like a snake in a knot.
Through the qualities of meditating in that way,
Mental obscurations are purified and the dharmakaya is attained."
-Ra Lotsawa, All-pervading Melodious Drumbeats
Re: Compassion for buddhas and boddhisatvas
An Arahant is someone has killed all emotions.ozymandias wrote: ↑Mon May 23, 2022 11:21 pm I think a Buddha is basically an extroverted arahat. They have the desire to teach and spread their wisdom. While most people are more introverted and self centered.
A Bodhisattva Mahasattva is someone has killed all emotion except compassion.
That's the reason for non-cessation and keeping a continuum for rebirth instead of parinirvana.
So the difference is basically a radical cutivation of compassion.
-
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Wed May 18, 2022 5:46 pm
Re: Compassion for buddhas and boddhisatvas
Thanks everyone
Do someone know how to recognize Maitreya.
IS there some signs that will bé there juste before or during his life hère ?
Do someone know how to recognize Maitreya.
IS there some signs that will bé there juste before or during his life hère ?
- Dhammanando
- Posts: 139
- Joined: Sun Apr 05, 2009 8:08 pm
- Location: Amphoe Li, Lamphun
Re: Compassion for buddhas and boddhisatvas
Have you a source for these claims?
Why do you suppose the Buddha exhorted his first sixty arahant disciples to "wander forth out of compassion for the world" if (being emotionless arahants) they didn't have any compassion for the world?
Then the Buddha addressed those monks: “I’m free from all snares, both human and divine. You, too, are free from all snares, both human and divine. Go wandering, monks, for the benefit and happiness of humanity, out of compassion for the world, for the good, benefit, happiness of gods and humans. You should each go a different way. Proclaim the Teaching that is good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, that has a true goal and is well articulated. Set out the perfectly complete and pure spiritual life. There are beings with little dust in their eyes who are ruined because of not hearing the Teaching. There will be those who understand. I too will go to Uruvelā, to Senānigama, to proclaim the Teaching.”
https://suttacentral.net/pli-tv-kd1/en/brahmali
Re: Compassion for buddhas and boddhisatvas
>Why do you suppose the Buddha exhorted his first sixty arahant disciples to "wander forth out of compassion for the world" if (being emotionless arahants) they didn't have any compassion for the world?
I dont suppose. I prefer to hear you opinion on the matter. No need for being harsh.
I dont suppose. I prefer to hear you opinion on the matter. No need for being harsh.
- Dhammanando
- Posts: 139
- Joined: Sun Apr 05, 2009 8:08 pm
- Location: Amphoe Li, Lamphun
Re: Compassion for buddhas and boddhisatvas
The notion that arahantship results in a blanket elimination of all emotions is not supported in any Buddhist text with which I'm familiar. But that of course leaves open the possibility that it's supported in some text presently unknown to me, which is why I asked you for a source.
My understanding is that arahantship brings about an irreversible elimination of unwholesome mental factors, while leaving the wholesome ones (including compassion) wholly intact.
When I open a sentence with, "Why do you suppose...?" I'm generally being quizzical, not harsh.
Re: Compassion for buddhas and boddhisatvas
>My understanding is that arahantship brings about an irreversible elimination of unwholesome mental factors, while leaving the wholesome ones (including compassion) wholly intact.
Ok, thank you a lot, and then what's the difference with a mahayana bodhisattva mahasattva in your view? (let's say in the tenth bhumi)
Best wishes
Ok, thank you a lot, and then what's the difference with a mahayana bodhisattva mahasattva in your view? (let's say in the tenth bhumi)
Best wishes
Re: Compassion for buddhas and boddhisatvas
The difference, compassionwise, is that the compassion of a Bodhisattva is of a character that spurs the Bodhisattva to keep being reborn, whilst the compassion of an arhat is, functionally at any rate, limited in scope to the beings they encounter in the remainder of their lifespan.Tao wrote: ↑Wed May 25, 2022 2:17 pm >My understanding is that arahantship brings about an irreversible elimination of unwholesome mental factors, while leaving the wholesome ones (including compassion) wholly intact.
Ok, thank you a lot, and then what's the difference with a mahayana bodhisattva mahasattva in your view? (let's say in the tenth bhumi)
Best wishes
But that is not to say that an arhat is in any way necessarily lacking in compassion. Conversely, a great reserve of compassion is not necessarily a requisite for arhatship the way it is for a mahasattva.
"Even if my body should be burnt to death in the fires of hell
I would endure it for myriad lifetimes
As your companion in practice"
--- Gandavyuha Sutra
I would endure it for myriad lifetimes
As your companion in practice"
--- Gandavyuha Sutra
- Dhammanando
- Posts: 139
- Joined: Sun Apr 05, 2009 8:08 pm
- Location: Amphoe Li, Lamphun
Re: Compassion for buddhas and boddhisatvas
The functional scope of an arahant's compassion may extend to later generations too.
Forest-dwelling monks, for example, are beneficiaries of the compassion of venerable Mahākassapa. Likewise rag-robe-wearing monks, triple-robe-wearing monks, cemetery-dwelling monks, etc., etc.
Recall the aging Kassapa's explanation as to why he wouldn't accept the Buddha's invitation to lighten up on the ascetic stuff:
“I have compassion for later generations, thinking, ‘May those of later generations follow my example!’ For when they hear, ‘The enlightened disciples of the Buddha were for a long time forest dwellers and spoke in praise of forest dwelling … were energetic and spoke in praise of arousing energy,’ then they will practise accordingly, and that will lead to their welfare and happiness for a long time. Considering these two benefits, venerable sir, I have long been a forest dweller … and have spoken in praise of arousing energy.”
“Good, good, Kassapa! You are practising for the welfare and happiness of the multitude, out of compassion for the world, for the good, welfare, and happiness of devas and humans. Therefore, Kassapa, wear worn-out hempen rag-robes, walk for alms, and dwell in the forest.”
https://legacy.suttacentral.net/en/sn16.5
Re: Compassion for buddhas and boddhisatvas
>a great reserve of compassion is not necessarily a requisite for arhatship the way it is for a mahasattva.