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Three Types of Bodhisattas 1
There are three types of Bodhisattas [that become Sammasambuddhas].
1) Bodhisattas with great wisdom (pannadhika), 2) Bodhisattas with great faith (saddhadhika) and
3) Bodhisattas with great effort (viriyadhika).
Great Bodhisattas are of
three types:[21] (1) those in whom wisdom (panna) is predominant,
(2) those in whom faith (saddha) is predominant, and (3) those in
whom energy (viriya) is predominant. For the first type, the
preparation requires four incalculable and one hundred thousand aeons.
The second type works for eight incalculable and one hundred thousand
aeons. The Bodhisatta Metteyya is the third type, those who work for
sixteen incalculable and one hundred thousand aeons.[22] These three
types are also explained as being due to the degree of the quality of
the energy they put forth, or again, as being determined by the degree
they develop the mental factors which bring emancipation to maturity (vimuttiparipacaniya
dhamma)
These three types of Great
Bodhisattas are determined by how much they have developed the
perfections when they make the aspiration to become a Teaching Buddha.
At the time they aspire to become a Teaching Buddha, they will already
have prepared to attain final Nibbana, Arahatship.[23] They will be at
the point that they could become Arahats (1) through a condensed
teaching of less than three lines (ugghatitannu), (2) through an
elaborated teaching of less than four lines (vipancitannu), or
(3) through further training amounting to hearing four lines (neyya).
According to the commentary on the Anagatavamsa,[24] Those in
whom wisdom is predominant, which was the case for the Bodhisatta who
became Buddha Gotama, would be able to understand a condensed teaching
of less than three lines. Those in whom faith is predominant would
understand a teaching of less than four lines. Those in whom energy is
predominant, as was the case for Bodhisatta Metteyya, would understand
on hearing four lines.
This might seem to suggest that the future Buddha
Gotama was more advanced that the future Buddha Metteyya when he made
his resolve to become a Buddha. But the difference may be related to the
fact that a Bodhisatta for whom energy is predominant develops the
perfections four times as long as a Bodhisatta for whom wisdom is
predominant.
Notes
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See Treatise, pp. 325f.
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This is mentioned in Dvp, p. 133.
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CSM, p. 130f. (in the discussion of
"cause").
-
In an unpublished passage. This is mentioned by
Sayādaw U Vicittasarabhivamsa in his Mahabuddhavan (Yangon:
Sasana Council, 1977), pp. 6-10 (he quotes as his source: Ashin
Thilawuntha [Silavamsa], Parami-kan-pyo).
May all be happy and well!
From:
http://what-buddha-said.net/library/Metteyya/arimet01.htm
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