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Will everyone eventually become a Buddha?

betaboybetaboy Veteran
edited February 2012 in Buddhism Basics
Namaste,

Please read this carefully. Let's say a guy is materialistic, he's taken birth in a rich family, doesn't care for enlightenment or anything remotely spiritual. But circumstances change, and he asks questions, getting into meditation, and so on. Won't this be the same for everyone? I mean, even the richest may in some birth be poor or lack something, thereby making them question the meaning of life - which in turn will bring them closer and closer to Buddhism.

So my point is, even the most apathetic guy in this life may be so because of circumstances, in the next birth or subsequent births, circumstances may impel him to move in a completely different direction. In this context, isn't everyone destined to become a Buddha?

BB

Comments

  • JeffreyJeffrey Veteran
    Yeah I definitely agree. We are always looking for happiness. If you can move something a foot then you can move it a mile eventually.
  • DakiniDakini Veteran
    If you can move something a foot then you can move it a mile eventually.
    I like this.

  • ZeroZero Veteran
    By your analogy yes... there are lots of assumptions in that though - do you want to explore the assumptions or were you just looking for affirmation that the logic of your analogy overall stands up?
  • personperson Don't believe everything you think The liminal space Veteran
    I can't find the passage but somewhere someone asked the Buddha this question, I think he was evasive or didn't answer at all. At any rate there wasn't a yes or no answer or some kind of elaborate explanation.
  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator
    Yes, definitely.
    I have an appointment next week at my local temple at 5.30.... :crazy:


    Heck, I wish it was that simple to reply......
  • Telly03Telly03 Veteran
    If we are reborn, and if we do learn from previous births, then it would make sense that we would eventually get to the questions of "who are we" and "what does all this mean". Even if we do not learn from previous births, I guess there is always the chance that we land in the thought provoking circumstance that is ripe for our understanding, so even then, eventually.
  • genkakugenkaku Northampton, Mass. U.S.A. Veteran
    How can a Buddha become a Buddha? I don't think that is possible.

    I do think it is possible for Buddhas to recognize they are acting out of character, however.
  • personperson Don't believe everything you think The liminal space Veteran
    I came across this:

    In the Mahāyāna Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra the Buddha is portrayed explaining that he proclaims all beings to have Buddha-nature in the sense that they will in the future become Buddhas:


    Good son, there are three ways of having: first, to have in the future, secondly, to have at present, and thirdly, to have in the past. All sentient beings will have in future ages the most perfect enlightenment, i.e., the Buddha nature. All sentient beings have at present bonds of defilements, and do not now possess the thirty-two marks and eighty noble characteristics of the Buddha. All sentient beings had in past ages deeds leading to the elimination of defilements and so can now perceive the Buddha nature as their future goal. For such reasons, I always proclaim that all sentient beings have the Buddha nature.[14]

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ātman_(Buddhism)#Positive_teachings_on_the_.C4.81tman_in_Mah.C4.81y.C4.81na_Buddhism

    This is a Mahayana sutra and isn't universally recognized and Buddha nature is also a debated point.

  • JeffreyJeffrey Veteran
    edited February 2012
    Bothi, you are making some assumptions that the mechanism of rebirth works the way you think it does. But as you have said yourself there is no way to know if rebirth is possible so granted that how could anyone know how it works? And you are making an assumption that the earth is the only place where there are beings.

    A glass of water can turn to ice. Does that mean the water was attached to rebirth as ice?
  • personperson Don't believe everything you think The liminal space Veteran
    Rebirth is a belief no one knows if this is possible. If rebirth was possible then the population of the world would not be increased...So this is not correct. First if you are not get any attachment then, this rebirth is a real attachment. You must leave it...
    Rebirth among animals is part of the teaching as well and the population of animals has seemed to be declining as the human population increases, not to mention the possibility of transplanetary rebirth.

    Belief in no rebirth is also a view and an attachment and so too needs to be abandoned.
  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator
    edited February 2012
    Rebirth is a belief no one knows if this is possible. If rebirth was possible then the population of the world would not be increased...
    ... and furthermore you are assuming a birth in the human realm... if you ascribe to realms, which many do.....


    Edit @person beat me to that one..... :)
  • IktomiIktomi
    Belief in no rebirth is also a view and an attachment and so too needs to be abandoned.
    Belief in rebirth is a view too, and many seem quite attached to it!
  • personperson Don't believe everything you think The liminal space Veteran
    Belief in no rebirth is also a view and an attachment and so too needs to be abandoned.
    Belief in rebirth is a view too, and many seem quite attached to it!
    We are in agreement. Party at your house! :mullet:
  • AzidonisAzidonis
    How can a Buddha become a Buddha? I don't think that is possible.

    I do think it is possible for Buddhas to recognize they are acting out of character, however.
    Absolutely this.

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