The Way to Become a Holy Being or Saint
Initial Stage |
Hinayana Stage |
Mahayana Stage |
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GOAL |
To stop non-meritorious (evil) behavior and practice good behavior to accumulate necessary merit so as to gain high status and a favorable rebirth in the future. In Buddhism this is seen only as a provisional goal and not as an end in itself. However, mastery of this stage is necessary to progress to higher levels. | To escape suffering of samsara (cycle of birth and death). This includes Sravakas or Arhats (Lo-hans) as well as the Pratyekabuddhas who obtain liberation on their own without a teacher in their current lifetime. This is also seen as a provisional goal or respite on the way to Buddhahood whereby the conflicting emotions are eliminated but the goal of ultimate nirvana has not been reached. | The superior goal of the Bodhisattva to bring all beings to enlightenment or Nirvana before gaining the goal of Buddhahood for one’s self. Here the double veils of conflicting emotions and primitive beliefs about reality have both been lifted and one achieves complete enlightenment. | ||
PATH |
Path of Favorable Rebirth (Not a Buddhist Path) |
Path to Liberation (Sravakayana) (Pratyekayana) |
Paramita or Open Mahayana Path to Buddhahood (Bodhisattvayana) |
Tantric or Secret Mahayana Path to Buddhahood (Vajrayana or Tantrayana) |
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TYPE OF TEACHING |
OTHER WORLD RELIGIONS |
EXOTERIC BUDDHISM (open) |
ESOTERIC BUDDHISM (secret) |
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Level of Attainment Possible |
Rebirth in the 3 Higher Realms of Samsara (various Heavens), but will still have to take unfavorable rebirths to pay off karmic debts | Arhat or Lohan (Sravakas) |
Pratyeka-Buddha (Not true Buddhas) |
Twelve or Thirteen Levels of Bodhisattvas |
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Buddha Body Attained |
None |
None |
Dharmakaya. [Sambhogakaya and Nirmanakaya are both revealed, but not emphasized.] |
Dharmakaya, Sambhogakaya, Nirmanakaya, and Real Nature Body. Advanced adepts may also obtain the Immortal Body or Rainbow Body. |
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TIME REQUIRED |
1-7 lifetimes to become an Arhat |
100 kalpas to become a Pratyeka-Buddha |
3 asankya kalpas |
Liberation possible in current lifetime with higher empowerments. Lower level practices can take up to 16 lifetimes. |
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VOWS |
Sometimes Take Refuge in Three Jewels |
Take Refuge in Three Jewels Pratimoksha Vows for Individual Liberation |
Take Refuge in Three Jewels
Bodhisattva Vows to Liberate All Beings Pratimoksha Vows |
Take Refuge in Four Jewels as represented by the Guru Tantric Vows (vary to fit practitioner’s karma) Bodhisattva Vows to Liberate All Beings Pratimoksha Vows |
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Non-Buddhist |
HINAYANA |
OPEN MAHAYANA |
SECRET VAJRAYANA |
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MAJOR PRACTICES-Training |
Ten Good Characteristics (Morality) |
IMPERMANENCE FIRM BELIEF in the SUFFERING of SAMSARA CAUSE and EFFECT (karma) APPRECIATION FOR PRECIOUS HUMAN BIRTH FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS 12 LINKS OF DEPENDENT ORIGINATION(Nidanas) |
DEVELOPMENT OF BODHICHITTA FOUR ALL-EMBRACING BODHISATTVA VIRTUES FIVE VIDYAS (Healing, Art-Technology, Sound, Logic, & Inner Science) Perfection of the Hinayana Practices |
PRELIMINARY TANTRIC PRACTICES GURU YOGA VARIOUS TANTRIC PRACTICES
Perfection of the Hinayana & Open Mahayana Practices |
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Sometimes practice forms of concentration (meditation) |
Practice "What Is Cultivation?" MORALITY, CONCENTRATION, & WISDOM |
Practice "What Is Cultivation?" MORALITY, CONCENTRATION, & WISDOM |
Practice "What Is Cultivation?" MORALITY, CONCENTRATION, & WISDOM |
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