Different states of Buddhist practice

 　

    The Buddha taught people the way to become a Buddha; before becoming a Buddha, because of the different methods of practice, there will be different states. Here are a few rough classifications:

　

1. Humans and heavenly beings

　

    We are already human in this life, but if we want to be reborn as a human again in the next life, or to become a heavenly being, we must practice the Five Precepts and Ten Good Deeds. The Five Precepts are: don’t kill (don’t kill life), don’t steal (don’t take other people’s things without consent), don’t commit adultery (don’t have sex with someone other than your partner), don’t lie (don’t tell lies), don’t drink alcohol (including taking drugs). The Ten Good Deeds are the first four of the Five Precepts, plus: don’t incite a quarre by speaking, don’t curse, don’t say ornate words, don’t be greedy, don’t be angry, and don’t be ignorant.

　

    The Buddha once said that in the six realms of samsara we live in, it is very difficult to be reborn as a human in the next life, and it is even more difficult to be reborn as a heavenly being in the next life. However, as long as we practice the Five Precepts and Ten Good Deeds, we can be reborn in the realms of heavens or humans, because that the karmas we create by practicing the Five Precepts and Ten Good Deeds are all good karmas, naturally we will not create any bad karma, and we can also increase our own merit. With accurately practicing Five Precepts and Ten Good Deeds, one can keep a human body in the next life, and even become a more extraordinary "heavenly being".

　

2. Sravaka

　

    The so-called "Sravaka" refers to those who hear the Buddhist Dharma of "Four Noble Truths" spoken by the Buddha, and who practice and be enlightened by hearing the voice of the Buddha’s preach. What are the "Four Noble Truths"? The Four Noble Truths are "suffering, gathering, cessation, and the path" (suffering: to understand what suffering is; gathering: to understand that everything in the world is impermanent, so everything is suffering; cessation: to know that nirvana is the highest state of cessation of suffering; path: to use the Buddhist Dharma eliminate all suffering and get out of the cycle of birth-and-death).

　

    The practice method of "Sravaka" belongs to Theravada. After the practice is accomplished, one can reach the state of "non-self", break the cycle of birth-and-death, and after the end of this life, he will enter Nirvana —— free from all annoyances and pains, and will not be reborn again.

　

3. Pratyekabuddha

　

    "Pratyekabuddha" means "be enlightened to the rule of cause and condition", and to clarify, it is "a practitioner who has realized the Twelve Causes and Conditions". Like Sravaka, it also belongs to Theravada Buddhism. Because of being enlightened to the truth of the world's "Twelve Causes and Conditions", he can also cut off annoyance, be apart from birth-and-death, and enter Nirvana. So, what is the "Twelve Causes and Conditions"? Twelve Causes and Conditions are the "cause of birth-and-death" —— because there is "ignorance", there is "action"; because there is "action", there is "consciousness"; because there is "consciousness", there is "name and form"; because there is "name and form", there are "six sense organs"; because there are "six sense organs", there is "touch"; because there is “touch”, there is “perceiving”; because there is “perceiving”, there is "like"; because there is “like”, there is “grasp”; because there is "grasp", there is "existence";  because there is "existence", there is "birth", and because there is "birth", there is "aging, death, sorrow, and suffering". There are twelve related causes and conditions in total. so it is called the “Twelve Causes and Conditions”. To put it simply, the reason that there are samsara (the cycle of birth-and-death) and annoyance is rooted in "Ignorance". "Ignorance" means "not understanding the truth of life and the universe." Because we don't understand the truth, we will continue to suffer through rebirth and death in the six realms. Once we realize "The truth of life and the universe", we can remove "ignorance" —— the root  of birth-and-death, and then we will not be continuously reborn and re-dead with sufferings. This state is "Nirvana". According to the Buddha, the state of Nirvana is the state where there is no suffering, no annoyance, and where one enjoys the happiness of Extinguishment.

　

4. Bodhisattva

　

    "Bodhisattva" is the must-pass way to become a Buddha. All Buddhas become Buddhas from "Bodhisattvas". The Bodhisattva vowed to become a Buddha himself and also to help all sentient beings become Buddhas. Therefore, the Bodhisattva not only practices himself, but also helps all living beings to practice; thus, he not only benefits himself, but also benefits others. The content of the Bodhisattva's practice is "the ten thousand practices of Six Paramitas" —— generosity, precepts, patience, diligence, meditation, and wisdom; after the Bodhisattva has completed “the ten thousand practices of Six Paramitas", he will be able to obtain true wisdom. The goal of the Bodhisattva's practice is to realize "non-self of Dharma". What is "non-self of Dharma"? It is to understand that "all methods do not dominate" or that "all things (including Dharma) have no real existence", and after understanding "non-self of Dharma", we can get rid of the binding of "Dharma (methods)" on us and gain great freedom and ease.

　

　

    The ultimate goal of learning Buddhism is to become a Buddha. Maybe according to different capacities, the practice methods and order are different, but the goal is the same —— to become a Buddha; so we should not reject the practice method that is different from our own; when we practice to the last level, we need to complete the Mahayana, Theravada, and Vajrayana at the same time, and then we can achieve the highest enlightenment and become a Buddha.