In what way do Bodhisattvas help others get enlightened?
Upvote:3
I'm drawing from Precepts of The Brahman Net Sutra, Upsasaka Precepts Sutra, and Avatamsaka (Flower Garland) Sutra.
The BNS recommends this worldly Bodhisattvas (monks and laity)
- Teaching (many precepts address this directly or indirectly, many sutras discuss pedagogy and the duty to teach) Upasaka Sutras forbid teaching the Dharma by laity.
- Building temples, and other religious "infrastructure"
- Reading and chanting sutras, which was believed to magically help the nation
- Caring for the sick. BNS & Upasaka Sutra's mention this. I don't know if it was for enabling enlightenment, or just a "right thing to do." Even early Mahayana Buddhism expected some sort of practice, like meditation & what not and that requires a certain amount of health.
- Avatamsaksa promotes all sorts of ways of helping people reach enlightenment indirectly by working on this worldly jobs.
Hosting vegetarian feasts for monks, lay Bodhisattvas, get mention in the BNS and Ullambana Sutra.
As for celestial Bodhisattvas, we don't get a lot of clues. The 7th to 10th Bhumis (grounds) describes what celestial Bodhisattvas do-- I don't have a good summary for that though.
And finally, there are the vows. Amitabha helps people reach enlightenment by guaranteeing rebirth in a pure land, which depending on who you are reading, is describe as an especially good place for practicing Buddhism, as compared to our own universe, where the most recent Buddha has passed on and there isn't another one available to teach.
Samantabhadra's vows has some more clues, such as encouraging Buddhas to come & stay in our universe-- since it is easier to become enlightened when there is a Buddha available, and transferring merit
More post
- 📝 What is the symbol sometimes depicted on images of the Buddha which looks like a swastika?
- 📝 Is Buddhism in a worldwide decline?
- 📝 According to buddhism, do demons exists?
- 📝 Meditation on floor vs bed
- 📝 Consciousness and Name-Form
- 📝 Buddhism and bacteria
- 📝 Feeling insane rushes of energy and pressure in the chest and neck during meditation
- 📝 Keeping rooted in the present in the face of past realities
- 📝 Did the Buddha according to the suttas mean anything else by the word "self" beyond simply the aspect of control/power?
- 📝 The mind experiment of rebirh
- 📝 Why I find it difficult to breathe when meditating, a lack of oxygen in my head? And how to overcome it?
- 📝 How does the Buddha attain nirvana?
- 📝 Is the world inherently good or is it something to be shunned?
- 📝 Buddhist views on talking with the dead? Is it possible?
- 📝 Did Pudgalavada Buddhists claim the the "person" existed between lives and / or in one life?
- 📝 A Buddhist guide to overcome self sabotage
- 📝 Taking Vinaya as a measure of the weight of kamma?
- 📝 Does Buddhism cause longevity?
- 📝 What is meant by statement "the one who sees Dhamma sees dependent origination"?
- 📝 Street art interpretation in predominantly Buddhist country
- 📝 How is forgiveness defined in Buddhism?
- 📝 How does one accomplish a reality not governed by the mind when thought is required to function?
- 📝 I love life and I don't want to die. How to let go?
- 📝 Kesi Sutta, what is an untamable person?
- 📝 Have Arahants have eliminated all Sankhara?
- 📝 Monks chosen for Tibetan Telepathy
- 📝 Is there a concept of after life in Buddhism?
- 📝 What are the six types of equanimity based on the household life?
- 📝 Is the term "Everything happens for a reason" appropriate?
- 📝 Why is it called "Nama" as in namarupam?'
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- 📝 In what way do Bodhisattvas help others get enlightened?
- 📝 What are the things that the enlightened people know but others don't?
- 📝 What would Buddhists do to get rid of the feeling of insecurity in relationships?
- 📝 What is the buddhist way of responding to compliments?
- 📝 What is the best way to practice humility
- 📝 What is the difference between learning the Buddhist way and simply learning from life?
- 📝 Is there a way to help us remember our previous life?
- 📝 What is a skillful way to meditate in the midst of a migraine headache?
- 📝 What is observing the precepts in a Hinayana way or a Mahayana way?
- 📝 What is the Buddhist Way to Reform and Correct People?
- 📝 What is the best way to forget bad choices in the past?
- 📝 What does Diamond Way Buddhism say about obstacles at times of becoming more conscious?
- 📝 What is the best way to develop a mind observation habit?
- 📝 What is Buddhist debate and how do I get started?
- 📝 What tools does a Buddhist have to engender others to take a wiser approach?
- 📝 What is the easiest way to achieve a state of no physical suffering?
- 📝 What exactly is Buddhism? Where does it help me? How can I start?
- 📝 Was Buddha deceiving others to get them on the path?
- 📝 What is the proper way to foster generosity and gratitude?
- 📝 Do enlightened people "know" what nirvana is like?
- 📝 Should we care about what others think?
- 📝 What kind of pleasure is the one we get by pursuing Mathematical problems and solving them? Is it a kind of sensual pleasure?
- 📝 What makes people care about others behind their backs?
- 📝 What is the right way of living in the Present?
- 📝 Some daily-life examples to help explain what 'mindfulness' and 'mindless activity' are?
- 📝 What do you think would be a good way to explain death to a child, from a Buddhist perspective?
- 📝 What does Buddhism teach about healing others through the mind
- 📝 How can Buddhism help me to get rid of a suffering due to a disease?
- 📝 The "conventional" self - in what way can it be accepted?
- 📝 What is the fastest way to reach enlightenment?