Terms and Definitions

Terms and Definitions


1) Buddha : A Rightly Self-Awakened One.

The All-Knowing, Seeing Supreme One. The Perfectly Enlightened One.


2) Arahant / Arahat : The most misunderstood and 'looked-down-upon' term by some sectors.

An Arahant / Arahat is A Worthy One.

A Pure One. A Fully Enlightened One.

It is also a term to describe The Buddha -

The Buddha has to be an Arahant before he/she can be known as The Buddha.

Generally Arahants are considered to be the disciples of The Buddha.

Cos it's through hearing /practising The Dhamma - The Teachings from The Buddha that they gain their Enlightenment.

That is why The Buddha is an Arahant,

BUT an Arahant may NOT neccessarily be a Buddha. (Read "Buddhahood or Arahantship" - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2009/07/buddhahood-or-arahantship.html)


3) Bodhisatta (in pali) / Bodhisattva (in Sanskrit) :

The most misunderstood, abused, misused term among the 3.

A Bodhisatta is someone who aspires and makes a vow in front of a presiding Buddha to be a Future Buddha.

And, the presiding Buddha (i.e. the current Buddha at that time/period) through his/her Supranormal Divine Vision sees if the aspirant has what it takes - the special factor/qualities needed/required,

Before making the prophesy that the aspirant shall become a Future Buddha.

That is why there are so few Buddhas,

And as The Buddha Himself said in Dhammapada verse 182,

"Rare is the appearance of The Buddha."

The term does NOT mean a 'special' being stationed in a particular realm, or have a realm specific to them, and invisibly helping beings -

As what is commonly/generally led to perceive and believed.

The Bodhisattas perform the meritorious acts/deeds in whichever realm they are born/take rebirth in -

Be it human, animal or devic.

Everyone and anyone can make the vow to be a Buddha,

BUT it does NOT mean you'll become one.

The aspirant after receiving the prophesy by the current presiding Buddha, is then known as 'Bodhisatta'.

And from the time after the vow, the Bodhisatta has to go through eons of lifetime,

Even in the Hell and the animal realms,

And endure tremendous amount of pain and suffering,

So as to train and perfect The Ten Paramittas/Perfections,

Before he/she can become The Buddha - The Supreme Rightly Perfectly Self-Awakened/Enlightened One.

* It is through the 10 Paramittas that The Buddha conquers Mara, NOT 6.




"The Diamond may be beautiful and dazzling, attracting lots of attention and a cult following;

But in Reality, it's NOTHING but an expensive, useless WORTHLESS piece of stone that depreciates in value.

The Great thinks themselves so great, that they know it all;

When in Truth it's their ego that's so great that they don't even know they got it ALL wrong.

Old ginger may be hottest, spiciest;

But NOT all ginger knows best and are exactly completely correct/right either.

Only those who care and dare to take up the fight, the challenge,

Are truly THE WORTHY ONES."




"Total score : 100%.

60% is just pass."




"It has always been, and will always be, Perfect 10.

6 is just NOT Good enough."