Reply To: Question about Pāramitã

#50175
Lal
Keymaster

Jittananto asked: “I have a question regarding a statement I read. It mentioned that bodhisattvas who lie cannot become Lord Buddhas.”

  • A Bodhisatta is not a Buddha. He is on the way to become a Buddha. 
  • Our Bodhisatta was born (as Jotipāla) during the previous Buddha Sasana of Buddha Kassapa (there were three Buddhas in this Maha Kappa before Buddha Gotama; see “Mahāpadāna Sutta (DN 14)“). His friend Ghaṭīkāra tried to take Jotipāla to meet Buddha Kassapa, but Jotipāla refused and insulted Buddha Kassapa. That was one reason why our Bodhisatta had to endure six years of hardships before attaining the Buddhahood.
  • That account is in the “Ghaṭikāra Sutta (MN 81).”

@Tobias G: A Bodhisatta does not know about Vipassana until the night of attaining Buddhahood.

  • It is impossible for us to figure out how a Bodhisatta works his way to Buddhahood. It is a natural and lengthy process.
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