Aspects of Mahayana Buddhism and its Relation to Hinayana c8.s12.18

c8.s12.18

Of the extraordinary spiritual powers attained by a Buddha, the Hinayānists say very little. We have in the Nikāyas the remark that Buddhas (including Paccekabuddhas) attain perfect knowledge by themselves, and by following the dharma unheard before.⁴ A Samyaksambuddha preaches the dhamma and becomes the founder of a religion, and the leader of men and the gods. He is sabbaññu (omniscient)⁵ and his knowledge in any matter whatsoever does not require any āvajjanā (reflection); he possesses ten balas, and four vesārajjas. In the Kathāvatthu⁶ there is a discussion on this topic, viz., whether the powers of a Tathāgata are the same as those of a Sāvaka—a point raised by the Andhakas on the basis of the Anuruddha-samyutta.⁷ Among the powers of Buddhas referred to, there is nothing very special except the few mentioned above, and the Theravādins were driven to an uncomfortable position by the question of the Andhakas. In their literature the Hinayanists tried to prove that a Buddha is a rare being and superior to the men and the gods, but they mention also that there is hardly any distinction between an Arhat and a Buddha except that the latter is a founder and teacher of a religion.⁸