Buddhological Development 2007

Concept of Paccekabuddha ( solitary Buddha )

Examine the development of the concept of the Pacceka Buddha and show how is
inability to teach the doctrine could be interpreter.
Paccekabuddha is separately enlightened one. He has realized the four noble Truths
without teacher. However, he has no the capacity to proclaim the teaching effectively to
others. The quality of Paccekabuddha is lower than that of Sammasam buddha.
In Agutaranikaya, mentioned that there are only two Buddhas in the world;
Sammasambuddha and Paccekabuddha. Isigili Sutta of MN says that the previous 500
Paccekabuddhas lived in Isigili Mountain. Isi found in Isigili and Isipatana refers to Pacceka
buddha. In Mahaparinibbana, it is mentioned that there are four kinds of persons who are
worthy of building Satupa; Sammasambuddha, Paccekabuddha, Arahanta and Cakkavattiraja.
According to Agutara nikaya (4th vol. 394) if anyone offers Dna to Pratyeka Buddha it is
more value than he offers to 100 arahants. In the Dakhinavibhagasutta of MN also
mentions the same thing.
Why Pacceka Buddha can not preach (admonish) the Dhamma
Paccekabuddha appears in this world during the period when there is no enlightened
Buddha and they do not appear in the world of decline (Vivittakappa) but in the world of
development (Samvattakappa). The difference between the Sammasambuddha and
Paccekabuddha is that the former person who not only knows the Dhamma but also lets
others known, the latter person who only knows the Dhamma and can not teach what he
knows to others. Paccekabuddha can penetrate only the taste of Attha (Attharasa), not that of
Dhamma (Dhammarasa).
But according to Apadana Pali, Paccekabuddha also can teach the doctrine to others.
In this text, it is mentioned that the teachings of Paccekabuddha are practiced in the world
with its devas. Those (Bala) who do not practice his teaching have to wander in the whirlpool
of Samsara. Those who practice his teachings can realize the four noble truths and attain the
enlightenment. It shows that Paccekabuddha also has the ability to teach the world.
There are two kinds of ana: Pativedanana (knowledge of realization) and
Desananana (knowledge of practicing). Desananana is essential to teach the Dhamma.
Paccekabuddha has no this kind of knowledge. As a result, he can not deliver any sermon to
others. Why Paccekabuddha can not teach the world, the reason is because he is devoid of
Desana Nana.
According to the explanation of Mahyana in the Saddharmapundarika sutta, it is
clear why the Pecceka (Pratyeka)-Buddha could not preach what he realized. The Pecceka
Buddha realized the truth, but lack of skillfulness in means (upya kausalya). Without
skillfulness the Truth cannot be explained to others. This shows that the Pecceka Buddhas
have the ability to discover the truth without being help from others, but he does not have the
ability to express the truth using conventional method.
According to Puggalapannatti, only Sammasambuddha possesses Dasabalanana and
Catuvesarajjanana but Paccekabuddha does not. Unlike this supreme Buddha, they can not
preach to the masses because Paccekabuddha do not have the Supreme Enlightenment to be
able to enlighten other in the same way as the Sammasambuddha.
In Milindapanna and the commentary of Khaggavisamasutta mentions that
Pacceka Buddha does not teach dhamma because he is very fond of solitary life.
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