Chapter 1 states Siddhartha Gotama studied under two teachers.
If one of the criteria of being a Buddha is being enlightened without the help of teachers, how does Gotama qualify?
Is it because he did not achieve enlightenment due to the lessons of those teachers?
When/if another Buddha arises, do you think he/she will do so by coming to learn the current path to enlightenment that we learn, or would a new Buddha find a different path? In other words, could there be more than one path? Whether closely related or vastly different?
Thank you.
Teacher David replies.
Chapter 1 states Siddhartha Gotama studied under two teachers.
If one of the criteria of being a Buddha is being enlightened without the help of teachers, how does Gotama qualify?
Is it because he did not achieve enlightenment due to the lessons of those teachers?
Yes, The Buddha never attained Enlightenment based on what those Teachers shared with him. They were teaching him to hang himself upside down from trees, lay on beds of nails, starve himself, pierce the body with metal implements, etc. None of those things led to Enlightenment so, he needed to go off and figure it out for himself, thus, meeting the first criteria of being a Buddha.
The Teachings that lead to Enlightenment were discovered by Gotama Buddha during his time alone in the forest. You can see Gotama Buddha's words on this in the below from Volume 2 - Chapter 13.
The Tathāgata, Monks, the Arahant, The Perfectly Enlightened One, is the originator of the path unarisen before, the producer of the path unproduced before, the declarer of the path undeclared before. He is the knower of the path, the discoverer of the path, the one skilled in the path. And his disciples now reside practicing that path and become possessed of it afterwards.
(Reference: SN 22.58)
When/if another Buddha arises, do you think he/she will do so by coming to learn the current path to enlightenment that we learn, or would a new Buddha find a different path? In other words, could there be more than one path? Whether closely related or vastly different?
The Path that Leads to Enlightenment is based on The Natural Laws of Existence. It is through cultivating wisdom of these natural laws that the mind awakens to Enlightenment.
The Natural Laws of Existence do not arise, change, nor fade away (i.e. they are not impermanent, they are permanent), therefore, a new Buddha will share the same Teachings as Gotama Buddha but, will bring clarity to The Teachings that does not currently exist in the world.
At this time in history, The Path to Enlightenment is widely unknown to the vast majority of the world. Gotama Buddha's Teachings have essentially disappeared. We are at a low point in society.
Maitreya Buddha (The New Buddha) will need to restore The Teachings of Gotama Buddha back into the world, in such a way, that countless people can get to Enlightenment.
(1) And in order to accomplish that, he would need to first attain Enlightenment on his own without the guidance of any Teachers.
(2) Then, he would have deep wisdom of exactly what it takes to attain Enlightenment and be able to share those independently discovered Teachings with countless people during his life and countless people would get to Enlightenment during his lifetime.
(3) And, he would preserve his Teachings, in such a way, that countless more people would get to Enlightenment after his death.
Maitreya Buddha would meet the same three criteria as Gotama Buddha, sharing the same Teachings with updated analogies etc. but, the same core and central Teachings describing The Natural Laws of Existence.
Maitreya Buddha will need to clarify The Teachings of Gotama Buddha as impermanence has significantly impacted their clarity, with over 2,500 years since Gotama Buddha's death. Maitreya Buddha will teach and guide countless people to Enlightenment.
Thank you.
You are welcome ma'am....pleased to help you.
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