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  Thursday, 30 August 2018
  6 Replies
  692 Visits
The Bodhisattva path is seen to be a superior path to that of the Pratyekabuddhas. The path of Pratyekabuddhas is considered selfish because they seek enlightenment and nirvana for themselves and deny the suffering of humanity. This statement sounds to be an oxymoron to me. So, if the pratyekabuddhas were selfish, their consciousness was inevitably bottled in an "I" and nirvana should be impossible for someone with a bottled consciousness. How can someone attain nirvana if they are heartless towards the suffering of humanity? And why is it impossible to help others after reaching Nirvana?
5 years ago
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#17017
Accepted Answer
Pratyekabuddhas, Shravakas, and other Nirvanis (of whatever name) still have karma and subtle forms of ego. They have gained the right to enormous bliss in Nirvana for extended periods of time. During such time, ego and karma are only suspended, and they are not interacting with the lower realms (where we are).

Nevertheless, they return every once and a while to a physical body, to karma, and to whatever remainder of ego they have. During this time they are in danger of falling and creating lots of ego again.

They may look like perfect saints to us, but this is because we are so asleep. A fully awakened master can see that those of the Spiral Path still have imperfections within them.

The term 'selfish' has to be understood in context. They may be very compassionate when compared to any ordinary person, but in comparison to the Direct Path Bodhisattva, they are selfish.
4 years ago
·
#21242
Pratyekabuddhas, Shravakas, and other Nirvanis (of whatever name) still have karma and subtle forms of ego. They have gained the right to enormous bliss in Nirvana for extended periods of time. During such time, ego and karma are only suspended, and they are not interacting with the lower realms (where we are).


Does one need to create the solar bodies to exist in Nirvana? I would imagine there is a distinction between a Nirvani and an elemental Buddha; the latter being single and restarting the wheel of Samsara back somewhere around Eden...?
4 years ago
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#21083
I was just wondering this the other day ! thanks!
4 years ago
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#21082
It depends on their karma. In my understanding, the 108 lives, as a mechanical element, would not apply in the way it does to us. It would depend on their actions. Such souls are treated with more severity, more pain.


Yeah eh, that figures...
4 years ago
·
#21074
It depends on their karma. In my understanding, the 108 lives, as a mechanical element, would not apply in the way it does to us. It would depend on their actions. Such souls are treated with more severity, more pain.
4 years ago
·
#21063

Nevertheless, they return every once and a while to a physical body, to karma, and to whatever remainder of ego they have. During this time they are in danger of falling and creating lots of ego again.
.


When they fall to the human level again, where do they begin in the chain of 108 human existences?
5 years ago
·
#17017
Accepted Answer
Pratyekabuddhas, Shravakas, and other Nirvanis (of whatever name) still have karma and subtle forms of ego. They have gained the right to enormous bliss in Nirvana for extended periods of time. During such time, ego and karma are only suspended, and they are not interacting with the lower realms (where we are).

Nevertheless, they return every once and a while to a physical body, to karma, and to whatever remainder of ego they have. During this time they are in danger of falling and creating lots of ego again.

They may look like perfect saints to us, but this is because we are so asleep. A fully awakened master can see that those of the Spiral Path still have imperfections within them.

The term 'selfish' has to be understood in context. They may be very compassionate when compared to any ordinary person, but in comparison to the Direct Path Bodhisattva, they are selfish.
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