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Buddhism: The Goals

Buddhism: The Goals. Therevada. Buddhism: The Goals. Buddhism eventually divided into two main branches following disagreements over what the Buddha actually taught. Therevada – The Way of the Elders ( Hinayana ) Mahayana – The Greater Vehicle. Therevada.

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Buddhism: The Goals

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  1. Buddhism: The Goals Therevada

  2. Buddhism: The Goals • Buddhism eventually divided into two main branches following disagreements over what the Buddha actually taught. • Therevada – The Way of the Elders (Hinayana) • Mahayana – The Greater Vehicle

  3. Therevada • Scriptures called Tipitaka (3 Baskets) • Vinaya – book of discipline for monks containing 227 rules • Teachings of the Buddha – Dhammapada • Jakata Tales • Goal of monks to become an Arhat • One who has passed beyond the craving which binds us to samsaric existence • “Ah happy indeed the Arhat! In them is no craving found.”

  4. Arhat • A person who has reached enlightenment by freeing him- or herself from greed, hatred and ignorance. • It takes a lifetime of dedication and study as a monk to reach this stage and few monks become Arhats. • They will not be reborn when they die as Parinibbana occurs at the death of an Arhant.

  5. So what’s the difference between the Buddha and an Arhat? • A Buddha is one who discovers the supreme path with his own efforts, without help from a teacher. • The Arhat on the other hand achieves Buddhahood but with the guidance from a Buddha.

  6. The Arhat • The Arhatis the ultimate goal of all Theravadan Buddhists. • However, according to tradition lay Buddhists cannot achieve Arhatship. • So the goal of lay Therevadan Buddhists is to gain a better rebirth from which they might become a monk/nun. • It can take many rebirths to reach the stage where one has the optimum conditions to become an Arhat.

  7. Is Arhatship a selfish goal? • Metta-bhavana (meditation on love) forms a central part of Theravada practice. The Buddha and his two main disciples, were arhats and, after achieving enlightenment, they led many other disciples to nibbana.

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