BUDDHISM THE MEANS The Sangha THE SANGHA This
BUDDHISM: THE MEANS The Sangha
THE SANGHA This has several layers of meaning: � Worldwide community of Buddhists � The monastic community in general � A monastic community (Like Samye Ling) � The Aryasangha
THE SANGHA The Aryasangha � This includes all Buddhists (both lay and monastic) who have reached enlightenment. � Sometimes called the ‘noble sangha’.
MAHAYANA BODHISATTVAS Having attained liberation, arya bodhisattvas can: � Live as long as they wish. � Enter and arise from limitless types of meditation. � Find everything they need. � Be born whenever and wherever they wish. � They can go to any pure-land Buddha-field that they wish. � Understand all the words and meanings of the Dharma.
THEREVADA In the Therevada tradition there are four stages of enlightenment: � Stream-enterer. � Once-returner. � Non-returner. � Arhat.
THEREVADA Stream-enterer. � The stream-enterer is said to have "opened the eye of the Dharma". � A stream-enterer will reach arhatship within seven rebirths. � The stream-enterer has attained perfect understanding of several aspects of the Dhamma including ‘right view’ and has complete confidence in The Three Jewels. � A Stream-enterer will not be reborn in any world lower than the human.
THEREVADA Once-returner. � They may have more than one rebirth still to go but only one as a human. � The once-returner has weakened the hold that the Three Root Poisons have over him/her to a greater degree than a stream-enterer.
THEREVADA Non-returner. � Non-returners will not be reborn as a human. � They are reborn in one of the five "Pure Abodes", and will attain Nibbana from there.
THEREVADA Arhat. � Requires no further training. � Is a fully enlightened person. � Upon death they will never be reborn in any world, having completely escaped Samsara. This is called parinibbana.
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