Theos-Talk Archives (January 1999 Message tt00100)

Rich wrote:

> Pratyekabuddhas are considered higher than Arhats,

Or, by reverse logic, Arhats are considered lower than Pratyeka Buddhas.
Yes?  Well, no.  This is complete nonsense.

>From "The Voice of the Silence".

Concerning Pratyeka-Buddha (Glossary to Part II):

"Caring nothing for the woes of mankind or to help it, but only for their
own *bliss*, they enter Nirvana and  - disappear from the sight and hearts
of men. In Northern Buddhism a 'Pratyeka Buddha' is a synonym of spiritual
Selfishness" (Glossary to Part II).

Further, (Glossary to Part III):

"(32).  In the Northern Buddhist phraseology all the great Arhats, Adepts
and Saints are called Buddhas.

(33). A *Bodhisattva* is, in the hierarchy, less than a "perfect Buddha."
In the exoteric parlance these two are very much confused.  Yet the innate
and right popular perception, owing to that self-sacrifice, has placed a
Bodhisattva higher in its reverence than a Buddha."

(34).  This same popular reverence calls "Buddhas of Compassion" those
*Bodhisattvas* who, having reached the rank of an Arhat (i.e., have
completed the *fourth* or *seventh* Path), refuse to pass into the Nirvanic
state or 'don the *Dharmakaya* robe and cross to the other shore,' as it
would then become beyond their power to assist men even so little as Karma
permits. . . . . ."

The summation of the VOICE of the SILENCE is, thus:


                              JOY UNTO YE, O MEN OF MYALBA (35.)

                              A PILGRIM HATH RETURNED BACK "FROM THE
                              OTHER SHORE."

                              A NEW ARHAN (36) IS BORN  . . . .

                                        *Peace to all beings* (37).


How on Myalba can Pratyeka-Buddha be considered "higher" than Arhan/Arhat?
Preposterous; a thousand times preposterous.

Best wishes,
Paul