The understanding of Tilakkhana is essential to attain Nibbāna. Without this understanding, it is impossible to attain it. An Anariya yogi outside of Sasana can rediscover the Dhamma and become a paccekabuddha also known as private Buddha.
- A paccekabuddha achieves the magga phala through his efforts but he is unable to establish a Sasana as a supreme Lord Buddha. They appear outside the Sasanas of a Supreme Buddha when human beings are ignorant of the Dhamma and mired in micchādiṭṭhi. Some yogis, thanks to their Kusulas, manage to rediscover the Dhamma, and even simple householders can become Paccekabuddhas by reflecting on the annica nature, eventually leaving lay life to become Yogis. Several Paccekabuddhas can appear simultaneously in the world. They regroup and each discuss how they discovered the Dhamma. Paccekabuddhas master all jhanas, abhinnas, and Nirodha Samapatti, and are released from both ways (Ubhatovimutta). While paccekabuddhas can sometimes teach the Dhamma to specific individuals until they become arahants, these cases are extremely rare. They do not teach large numbers of people as Lord Gautama would, but they do teach how to lead a moral life, the dangers of Kāma ragā and how to obtain jhanas. Those who take care of them receive Kusulas. The majority of people of their time do not even know that they are arahants since the Dhamma is unknown. They surely take them as another type of yogis who reject sensual pleasures and teach moral precepts. To become a Paccekabuddha, one must aspire to be one and receive confirmation from Lord Buddha. Additionally, one must have developed the paramis to a much higher level than a simple arahant for two thousand asankheyya kappas. An example of an aspiration of a person who wants to become one is: “May I rediscover the Dhamma and achieve Nibbāna even if I am reborn at a time when it is unknown in this world.”
Here are examples of Suttas where Lord Buddha pays homage to them: Isigilisutta
These and other mighty ones awakened independently
Ete ca aññe ca mahānubhāvā,
enders of the conduit to rebirth—
Paccekabuddhā bhavanettikhīṇā;
honor these great seers who have slipped all chains,
Te sabbasaṅgātigate mahesī,
fully extinguished, limitless.”
Parinibbute vandatha appameyye”ti.
The Sage of Vedeha, his body bent, asked
the Thus-Gone-One dwelling in Jetavana,
“Indeed there are those called the Lonely Buddhas;
through what causes do they become so, Wise One?”
Then spoke the Omniscient, Outstanding, Great Sage,
to lucky Ānanda with his honeyed voice,
“Who performed service among former Buddhas,
but didn’t get freed in their dispensations,
because that is the means to awaken, wise,
they with sharp knowing,through knowledge and power,
because of their wishes and also great strength,
reach the Awakening of Lonely Buddhas.
In every world, with the exception of me,
there is no equal for the Lonely Buddhas.
I will describe a piece of the excellent
character of those Buddhas, the Great Sages.”
Here is an example of when they teach a person until he becomes an arahant: Dhammapada Verse 290Attanopubbakamma Vatthu
Here are examples of Jataka where lay people became Paccekabuddhas:Darimukha Jātaka, Paniya Jātaka.
- Paccekabuddhas show that the Dhamma is eternal and only for the wise. It doesn’t matter that these laws (Tilakkhana, Kamma) have been ignored by beings for hundreds and hundreds of billions of years, they are present. Only those who have developed the necessary paramis and Kusulas will be able to rediscover them even if Lord Buddha and his Sasana are not in this world. Those who do not understand them will continue to wander in this Samsara through its 31 illusions.