Arhat and Bodhisattva

Question 1

What is a Bodhisattva?

Answer 1

An Sanskrit word meaning enlightened being to Mahayana Buddhists. They are often understood to be celestial beings answering prayers on the path to enlightenment.
Effectively the same meaning as the Buddha, motivated by selfless compassion.

Question 2

What’s the Mahayana belief in the ultimate truth?

Answer 2

That everything is connected within the ‘Greater Vehicle’

Question 3

What qualities do Bodhisattvas have?

Answer 3

Wisdom and compassion as they’ve committed themselves to the path towards enlightenment through the path of the Ten Bhumis to see everything as it really is (ultimate truth).

Question 4

What is an Arhat? (Theravada)

Answer 4

Someone who has reached enlightenment gained nirvana, freeing themselves from the poisons that ties someone to re birth. This is the ultimate goal of existence.

Question 5

What is Nirvana?

Answer 5

The escape from Samsara and Dukkha

Question 6

How to Arhats reach enlightenment?

Answer 6

Through the removal of the Ten Fetters (ties), the abandonment of these happen in four stages of Awakening.

Question 7

Whats the first stage of awakening? (Arhat)

Answer 7

Stream enterer (or winner)
The Fetters of belief in a self, doubt or uncertainty and attachment to rites and rituals have been escaped.
There are seven more rebirths as humans or in the heavenly realm.

Question 8

What’s the second stage of awakening? (Arhat)

Answer 8

Once returner
The Fetters of hate, greed and ignorance have been escaped.
There is one more rebirth as human.

Question 9

What’s the third stage of awakening? (Arhat)

Answer 9

Non returner
Completely free from ill will and all of the five fetters.
One more rebirth in a heavenly realm

Question 10

What’s the fourth stage of awakening? (Arhat)

Answer 10

Becoming an Arhat
No more lust for material existence or rebirth, conceit, restlessness and ignorance is gone.
No more rebirths

Question 11

Whats an arhats purpose in life and what happens why they die?

Answer 11

They only exist to help others.

When they die they attain Pari Nirvana.

Question 12

How do Mahayana Buddhists view arhats?

Answer 12

As a being who’s reached enlightenment but not yet taken the Bodhisattva vow, so incomplete.

Question 13

How do Theravada Buddhists view Bodhisattvas? What’s an example?

Answer 13

As the Buddha in one of his previous lives as told in the Jataka Tales in the Suttra Pitaka, on the way to enlightenment. They don’t believe it really exists nowadays and the title ‘Buddha’ is reserved for the historical Buddha who reached enlightenment on his own.
The Buddha in a previous life “then the Bodhisattva lay down and let the tigress eat him”.

Question 14

How can Bodhisattva help others?

Answer 14

Through upaya (skilful means)

Question 15

Which Bodhisattva is the Dhali Lama often seen to be a manifestation of for Tibetan Buddhists?

Answer 15

Avalokitesvara, Bodhisattva of compassion to use his upaya to help others

Question 16

What happens at each of the Ten Bhumis?

Answer 16

They achieve wisdom (prajna) which leads to an increase in their compassions.

Question 17

What is the first Bhumi?

Answer 17

It’s ‘joy’ and the Bodhisattva understands that all living being are interconnected and as a result of this they achieve the Paramita of Dana because they automatically want to give generously to all living things.

Question 18

What is the sixth Bhumi?

Answer 18

This is enlightenment where they gain the Paramita of wisdom.

Question 19

What is the seventh Bhumis and what’s an example of this is practice?

Answer 19

This is where Bodhisattva go beyond and gain the Paramita of Upaya (skilful means) to help others reach enlightenment.
An example of this is the parable of the burning house where the father has escaped samsara so therefore can help others escape.

Question 20

How are humans unique? Arhat

Answer 20

That they are born in a realm where reaching nirvana.
Illustrated through Shantidevas story of a turtle coming to the surface every hundred years and putting his nose through a golden ring

Question 21

What are the Four stages comparable to and based on? Arhat

Answer 21

The Buddhas temptations from Mara

Teachings of the Buddha in the Dhammacakkappavattana where one person became a stream enterer

Question 22

What do Theravada Buddhists believe about Arhats in todays society?

Answer 22

That there are monks that are Arhats who are great teachers in monasteries