Question NO 2 - 2007

Discuss the dispute with regard to appellation of the Buddha which is base on
the conversion of an Arahntship into Buddhahood and examine the development
of the different of between Arahantship and Buddhahood.
The term Arahant has been named as Vajirupamacitta Puggala, the one whose mind
is similar to diamond, Paragu who has crossed the Samsara, Muni who approaches to
seclusion, Naga who never returns, Dhira who is brave, Kusala who is skillful and so on.
Both the Buddha and Arahant control their sense organs, looks for limited requisites to
sustain their life, bear the difficulties and pains of life, and get away from improper places
and unsuitable persons.
The Buddha himself was the Enlightened One realizing the Four Noble Truths and
enlightened other to become Arahants for their liberation. He dispelled the darkness of
ignorance by teaching the world how to be free from suffering. Arahant (Araha) is one who
has destroyed all defilements,cravings. In this sense, the Buddha is also one of Arahants. But
he is the first one who discovers the path leading to the extinction of sufferings.
It is generally tough enough for ordinary people to realize the Four Noble Truths by
themselves. After listening to the Buddha teachings, they practiced them and become
Arahants. Therefore, they are the disciples of the Buddha. Some of them are called
Aaggasavaka (chief disciple), Mahasavaka (great disciple) and Ariyasavaka (Noble disciple)
It is stated in the Samannapala sutta of D.N of how a person becomes Arahant. It is
said that one having heard the Dhamma, gain faith in Tathagata and reflects: Household life is
confining, a dusty path. The life gone forth is like an open air. It is not easy living at home to
practice the holy life. Then he abandons his mass of wealth, leaves his relatives, shaves off
his hair and beard, puts on the robes and goes forth from the household life to homelessness.
When he has gone forth, he lives by the rules of the monastic code (Sila), guards the doors of
senses (indriasamvara), is possessed of mindfulness and alert (Satisampajanna) and is content
(santutthi).
He dwells with concentration and attains Jhanas by removing hindrance (Nivarana).
Then he directs his mind towards insight knowledge (vipassana nana). He achieves the
various kinds of higher knowledge step by step. Finally, he directs his mind to the destruction
of Asava (Asavakkhaya).
There are various qualities of the Buddha. They are explained in Mahasihanada Sutta
by the Buddha himself to differentiate his qualities from Arahant's and highlight the faith of
disciples toward him. Then he elaborated his own qualities to refute the defamation of
Sunakkhatta who said that the Buddha is nothing more than human power
(Uttarimanussadhamma). Nine well-known attributes (Araham, Sammasambudho, etc.), ten
power of knowledge (Dasabalanana), fort kinds of intrepidity (Catuvesarajjanana) of the
Buddha are described in this Sutta.
The difference between an Arahant and the Buddha was that the Buddha knew the
path, he was clever of path, he was the founder of the path, which was not there in the early
period, but the Arahant can not.
These are the definition of the Buddha and the difference between an Arahant and the
Buddha. The physical power of the Buddha is equal to ten times to that of Chaddanta
elephant No Arahant can match and catch up with his qualities in all directions at all times.
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Question NO 2 - 2007