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Achieving Buddhahood/Nirvana
- Thread starter Sniper670
- Start date
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Depends on the context of the fictional verse that is using said concepts
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Still depends on what the verse says it's like. A lot of fiction has its own versions of it, with its own abilities. Nirvana in real life doesn't give anything obviously, religiously is another story.
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is that information from a story your reading?
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Have a fair bit of knowledge on Buddhism In the real world so I'm going to answer this based on that knowledge ignoring verses.
Nirvana basically is the point of ultimate realisation of the way the world is and the reality of samsara as well as the relation between desire and suffering in accordance with the four noble truths . Anybody who has become enlightened is considered omniscient. In addition to this, it is mentioned that Buddhas are able to manifest themselves in the Buddha Nature that pervades the universe ( essentially meaning they can reach the highest Brahma heavens or any other realm in the Buddhist cosmology, including our world instantly). One notable Buddha of the Mahayana Schools, Amitabha was even able to create an entire land distinct from our world called the western pureland through the power of bodhi (enlightenment).
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The Buddhist scripture and general dharma would suggest otherwise as I have explained in my above comment
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Not really since we don't base things based purely on religion without some kind of fictional spin or relation to it. It also clashes with the cross-verse scaling, as something in one description does not equate to something in another.
A popular example is the Cthulhu Mythos, they appear in many different games, however, they do not equate or scale to the original and only what is present in their source material.
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I was just providing infomation based on the real life beleifs of Buddhists on enlightenment as thats what I believe OP was asking for
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Not at all tbh. Buddhism states that when we die, if we have not attained enlightenment, then we will be reborn in any of the realms ( as I mentioned earlier in the buddhist cosmology). However when people become enlightened, they are no longer tied to this continual process of birth and death.
In Buddhism, there is a believe in heaven ( there are many of them) and also Gods or Devas ( contray to what most intitaly thing and possibly the biggest misconception). Gods are not like the Christian or Muslim definition and are also subject to death and are not free from being reborn as a human for example just like us ( although they do live a generally more happy life). There is no belief in a soul in Buddhism.
Generally speaking Buddhahood and enlightenment mean the same thing but Buddhahood is generally attributed to the most perfect enlightenment ( acheived by Gautama for example) and considered a more genuine type of enlightenment than that aimed for by Theravada practicers who aim for (Arhatship).
Also, if you have any other questions regarding this topic, I would be more than happy to answer
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Yes, anybody who attains Buddhahood, has attained Nirvana but not necessarily everybody who attains nirvana has achieved Buddhahood. Essentialy, if your interested in the history of it, the original Buddhist sect was brought about in India ( the Theravada schools) these are beleived to hold the original teachings of the Buddha from the Pali canon. From this sect though, have derived two other major schools (Mahayana and Vajrayana). There is a Suttra from the Mahayana tradition that tells the occasion of how Gautama Buddha basically told all his disciples that even though they had attained Nirvana, they had not yet attained Buddhahood which is considered to be the most perfect form of enlightenment. This is where the destinction between the two comes. If you were to ask a Theravada monk or lay person is there a difference, they would say no however in the eyes of Mahayana, there is because to attain Buddha hood there is essentially another whole path to cultivate not mentioned in Theravada, that being of the Bodhisattva which involves performing meritious deeds and developing the paramitas (perfections). generally, Nirvana, in the sense of Arhatship can be attained in a life time whereas full Buddhahood, by the Mahayana definition can take several Aeons ( a unit of time ~16 million years).
With regard to abilities, I don't believe there is much distinction as anybody who realizes the Dharma is Omniscient and can travel throughout the various planes of existence in the Buddhist cosmology ( Human realm, Deva realm, realm of hungry ghosts etc.) - it is Important you realize though that this does not mean omnipotence and no Buddha has omnipotence nor do any Devas (Gods) . A disciple of the Buddha who attained enlightenment, Maudgalyayana was also said to have psychic abilities which allowed him to escape death multiple times. Overall though, it is principal in the Buddhist believe that no amount of power or abilities can surpass the law of Karma and the Dharma which is shown in that above monks case as eventually he was unable to use these psychic powers since the roots of his Karma laid in his previous life by killing his parents had meant he ultimately ran into a circumstance where the Karma fruited and cost him with death regardless of his powers.
So to summaries, Buddhahood and Nirvana can be used interchangeably and typically just mean enlightenment ( that the attainer has been set free from rebirth by true understanding of the Dharma) But depending on the context, there could be a slight difference, with Buddhahood meaning true and perfect enlightenment attained by those who have completed the Boddhisattva path and perfected the Paramitas.
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No problem, I enjoy sharing my Knowledge on BuddhismThank you very much comrade
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Please do, I have just answered your question about the differences between Buddhahood and enlightenment and the abilities attained with both
