The Concept Of The Pacceka Buddha (long One) 2p6p6y

Buddhological Development 2007

Concept of Paccekabuddha ( solitary Buddha ) Examine the development of the concept of the Pacceka Buddha and show how is inability to teach the doctrine could be interpreter. Paccekabuddha is separately enlightened one. He has realized the four noble Truths without having heard a Buddha's doctrine from others. However, he has no the capacity to proclaim the teaching effectively to others. The quality of Paccekabuddha is lower than that of Sammasam buddha. In Agutara nikaya, mentioned that there are only two Buddhas in the world; Sammasambuddha and Paccekabuddha. Isigili Sutta of MN says that the previous 500 Paccekabuddhas lived in Isigili Mountain. Isi found in Isigili and Isipatana refers to Pacceka buddha. In Mahaparinibbana, it is mentioned that there are four kinds of persons who are worthy of building Satupa; Sammasambuddha, Paccekabuddha, Arahanta and Cakkavattiraja. According to Agutara nikaya (4th vol. 394) if anyone offers Dna to Pratyeka Buddha it is more value than he offers to 100 arahants. In the Dakhina vibhaga sutta of MN also mentions the same thing. In Puggalapannatti, the information about Paccekabuddha has been described in detail comparing with Sammasambuddha. It is said that only Sammasambuddha possesses Dasabalanana and Catuvesarajjanana but Paccekabuddha does not. Unlike this supreme Buddha, they can not preach to the masses because Paccekabuddha do not have the Supreme Enlightenment to be able to enlighten other in the same way as the Sammasambuddha. Why Pacceka Buddha can not preach (onish) the Dhamma . Paccekabuddha appears in this world during the period when there is no enlightened Buddha and they do not appear in the world of decline (Vivittakappa) but in the world of development (Samvattakappa). The difference between the Sammasambuddha and Paccekabuddha is that the former person who not only knows the Dhamma but also lets others known, the latter person who only knows the Dhamma and can not teach what he knows to others. Paccekabuddha can penetrate only the taste of Attha (Attharasa), not that of Dhamma (Dhammarasa). But according to Apadana Pali, Paccekabuddha also can teach the doctrine to others. In this text, it is mentioned that the teachings of Paccekabuddha are practiced in the world with its devas. Those (Bala) who do not practice his teaching have to wander in the whirlpool of Samsara. Those who practice his teachings can realize the four noble truths and attain the enlightenment. It shows that Paccekabuddha also has the ability to teach the world. There are two kinds of ñana: Pativedanana (knowledge of realization) and Desananana (knowledge of practicing). Desananana is essential to teach the Dhamma. Paccekabuddha has no this kind of knowledge. As a result, he can not deliver any sermon to others. Why Paccekabuddha can not teach the world, the reason is because he is devoid of Desana Nana. According to the explanation of Mahyana in the Saddharmapundarika sutta, it is clear why the Pratyeka-Buddha could not preach what he realized. The Pratyeka Buddha realized the truth, but lack of skillfulness in means (upya kausalya). Without skillfulness the Truth cannot be explained to others. This shows that the Pratyeka Buddhas have the ability to discover the truth without being help from others, but he does not have the ability to express the truth using conventional method. According to Puggala pannathi the Pacceka Buddha does not achieve dasabala and catu vesarajjni. Only Sammsambuddha achieve this Balas. The commentary of Khaggavisama sutta mentions that Pacceka Buddha does not teach dhamma because he is very fond of solitary life. 548

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This Mahyana people interpreted but Theravdins interpreted in different manner, therevdins really did not give reason for the inability of Pacceka Buddha to preach the dhamma, just they mention Pacceka Buddha have Avabodhaa knowledge of realization but does not have ability to preach dhammadesanaa. In the Milinda panha (question of king Milinda) who is the Pacceka Buddha? Here is a person who realizes the truth by himself and does not have any teacher, and he is ekacari lives alone. Khaggavisanakappo means nature of ekacari live alone. It is mentioned sakavirayo parisuddha vimala citta, tesa ta citta sakavirayo lahukam uppajjati lahuka pavattati sabbau buddhabhumisu garuka uppajjati dandha pavattati this means he can send his mind to his own subjects of Pacceka Buddha, but he cannot send his mind forward as Sabbau Buddha and he cannot think like Buddha’s way of Omniscience.

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