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Pāramitā – How a Puthujjana Becomes a Buddha
2 ) Attaining magga phala — including Arahantship — does not have such specific requirements (at least, I have not seen them). Yet, those also require cleansing one’s mind over multiple lives. No goals can be achieved without effort. Even when one wins a lottery, there is a reason (a good kamma vipāka from previous lives).
- Thank you, Sir Lal, for this article. It will help clarify many misunderstandings about achieving magga phala. Many people don’t yet understand these concepts very well. Some believe that one must be very special to achieve magga phala, and they have the concept of chosen ones in mind – beings who are perfect from the beginning to the end. However, there are examples where bodhisattas have accomplished many unwholesome actions. It’s important to remember that there are even beings in the nirayas who have accumulated many wholesome actions despite their unfortunate rebirths. Devadatta and King Ajatasattu are perfect examples. They will become Paccekabuddhas in the future Kappas. People don’t know that everyone has to start somewhere and that beings like Arahant Bāhiya and Santati have done the majority of the work in their past lives.
- I have a question regarding a statement I read. It mentioned that bodhisattvas who lie cannot become Lord Buddhas. They can commit other wrongful actions, but lying is not one of them. I asked a monk for an explanation, and he told me that it’s because a bodhisattva seeks the truth of this world, and when they become a Lord Buddha, they will spread it among countless beings. Lying goes against this aspiration. What are your thoughts on this? Harita Jātaka: “They who forsake the truth, though they sit in the sacred enclosure of the Bo tree, cannot attain Buddhahood. I must need just speak the truth.”
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Please see #11:
11. In the Tipiṭaka, it says the usual progression of one’s character (gati) buildup is dāna (giving), sila (moral conduct), bhāvanā (mostly loving kindness towards others), and culminating in paññā (wisdom).I thought bhāvanā is meditation/vipassana. Can someone explain?
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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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Attaining magga phala — including Arahantship — does not have such specific requirements (at least, I have not seen them).
Being Tihetuka would qualify as specific requirement
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