Does Buddha go to Naraka (hell) to save those tormented beings?
Upvote:1
Lord Buddha has often preached about the hells and from his teachings it isn't apparent that he traveled there. However it is apparent that such beings are not capable of understanding or practicing merits. Therefore, it is unlikely Lord Buddha frequented hell to help those beings as they might likely be unable to receive it.
Upvote:2
We say that when the Buddha was a bodhisattva, he vowed to go to Naraka to save beings suffering there. Compassion is the wish that others be free from suffering. Great compassion is the wish that all sentient beings be free from suffering. Superior intention is taking upon oneself to [do what it takes] free others from suffering and establish them in happiness. So, strictly speaking, here it is a case of 'superior intention'.
In the Tibetan Gelug tradition, we recite the Lamrim prayer of the Lama ChΓΆpa every two weeks. At some point, it reads:
Even if I must remain for an ocean of eons in the fiery hells of Avici for the sake of even just one sentient being, I seek your blessings to complete the perfection of joyous effort to strive with compassion for supreme enlightenment and not be discouraged.
Still, as you say
- One harvest what one has sown / None can take someone else's karma upon him
- Buddha can not give enlightenment to others.
- Dharma is not heard in Avici. But there is a story of a hell being generating compassion for another hell being's suffering. According to that story, the other hell being was an emanation of a buddha, and he meant for the first to generate compassion so as to create a cause of happiness.
This does not prevent us from aspiring to take upon ourselves the suffering of others, and to give away our happiness and its causes (merits). And this is the whole point: we cultivate an intention, because this intention will be a cause of achieving enlightenment.
It is just like the perfection of generosity: the virtuous intention to give. One (arya bodhisattva) can cultivate the perfection of generosity, that is the intention, even when there are still needy people in the world. Cultivating generosity does not mean eradicating poverty. Similarly, taking it upon oneself to establish sentient beings in enlightenment does not mean establishing them in enlightenment. The best a buddha can do is turning the wheel of Dharma, out of his omniscient mind, and that turning will be but a condition (not the substantial cause) of others' enlightenment.
Upvote:3
As far as my study in sutta, Buddha did not go to hell to help beings in that world. They are considered to be "unfortunate" beings; among animals, hungry ghosts, and gods in arupa world because they do not have the strength or what it takes to understand dharma. However, in one instance, Buddha was so kind to a Naga (which considered to be a being in animal world) by telling him to observe 8 precepts on Upasatha days and he would become human faster. In one sutta, Buddha compared beings in hell to be like a person drowning in a cesspool not even a strand of hair above it to grab pulling him out.
For question number 3) not always necessary. In Migasala sutta, Buddha divided people into 10 groups, which one of them is;
Here, Γ’nanda, a certain person is overwhelmed with hate and from time to time greed arises to him. He has heard something fruitful, has learnt something, has straightened his view and he personally has gained some release. After death he does not go to loss gains some distinction.
More post
- π Meditation or practicing technique has benefits of prenatal elaboration?
- π Is Mind in Buddhism connected to Brain (the physical organ)?
- π Is the space between thoughts an indicator of meditative calmness?
- π Satipatthana sutta in english AUDIO
- π Buddhism Society & Action
- π Can Buddhist practice make you more emotionally volatile?
- π Beards or no beards
- π what is the love described in Buddhism?
- π Justify immoral deeds with one incapacitties
- π Are Samskara in PratΔ«tyasamutpΔda a cohesive collection of memories or imprints?
- π How to interpret "cessation"?
- π Is Intention a sankhara?
- π How is a Theravada Buddhist monastery established?
- π AN 4.233 what exactly is the relation between kamma, saαΉ khΔrΔ?
- π How to exercise goodwill in social circle?
- π What's the shortest path to eradicate Mana (self-view)?
- π Sentience, killing, & extremes?
- π Does meditation increase sensitivity to sense perceptions and why?
- π how to eradicate past smaskaras
- π Can a puthujjana have unshakable faith in the Buddha-Dhamma?
- π How does Buddhism explain consciousness if there is no self?
- π very strong cravings for compelling images of moving exciting images
- π Confusion Over Intense Experience During Meditation
- π If Buddhists believe that life is just suffering why don't they just kill themselves?
- π Why is the YogΔcΔra school called 'mind only'?
- π Unintentionally killing insects when playing sports and running
- π Ven. Ajahn Chah's Teachings on Meditation practice as a westerner
- π In any Buddhist Context, is there a Necessary Existent
- π Online reference to AA.i.254
- π Pali Canon support for living on the edge between all dualities?
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- π Does Buddha go to Naraka (hell) to save those tormented beings?
- π Why do enlightened beings want to save sentient beings? Does everyone want to be saved?
- π Does Vajrayana accept the idea that Buddha placed Lord Yama (a supposed Bodhisattva) in charge of the hell realms to ensure karmic retribution?
- π What does it mean by 'All beings have a Buddha nature'?
- π Is ending up in hell at some point in time inevitable for those beings who are not Stream-Entrants?
- π Why does the Buddha call himself the TathΔgata?
- π Why does the Buddha always answer a question if asked three times?
- π How does one escape suffering when they cannot provide for those they love
- π Does the Buddha like dogs?
- π Does Pure Land Buddhism ever have a Buddha other than AmitΔbha as the object of devotion?
- π What does Buddha and Buddhism say about fighting against enemy of dharma?
- π What does the Buddha mean by this quote? "There is no punishment for anger. It is the anger which will punish you."
- π Does loving kindness meditation help beings other than the practitioner?
- π Did the Buddha state that there is only one way, and state/imply that any other path (such as those practiced by yogis) was futile?
- π Why does the Buddha appear androgynous in some depictions?
- π Does Mahayana Buddhism discourage attaining enlightenment under the Gautama Buddha Sasana?
- π Anesthesia, being knocked out, unconsciousness...what does the Buddha have to say about it?
- π Where does the Buddha mention a craving for non-existence?
- π In which suttas does The Buddha cover annihilationism (ucchedavΔda)?
- π Does the Buddha deny genetic differences?
- π Does each Buddha find a new path?
- π How does the Buddha subdue fear in MN4?
- π Does an Arahant or Buddha still like music they liked as a lay person?
- π If Buddha is able to predict the future of other sentient beings how can freewill be possible as its very nature is that of unpredictability?
- π Where does the Buddha say 'you will be punished by your anger'?
- π Where does the Buddha compare the Dharma to leaves on a tree?
- π Does Buddha bless all human beings?
- π Where does the Buddha describe suffering as being like a person who is hit by two arrows?
- π Does Avalokiteshvara speak through the Buddha in the Heart Sutra? Or how is it that Avalokiteshvara speaks to Shariputra?
- π Where does the Buddha talk about investigation of energy (offering him some relief while in physical pain)?