(continued from previous post)
Enlightenment is not as rare as some people might believe, for
example, in Buddha's lifetime alone it was recorded that thousands
of his disciples attained Arhatship, with many more attaining the
lower paths like non-returner, once-returner, stream enterer. There
are also many Bodhisattvas of various bhumis even those at very
high bhumis. Even today there are many of these enlightened people
around. Therefore attaining enlightenment is not something limited
to very special people.. ordinary practitioners can all get
enlightened if they practise the dharma.
I wish to point out that although many gained enlightment of
some level, be it 1st stage of sainthood or Arahanthood during
Buddha's time, it will not be so in our Dharma-Ending age.
"末法亿亿人修行罕一得道，惟依念佛，得度生死"
(The above is translated as: During the Dharma-Ending age (this
refers to the age we are all in now), there may be countless people
cultivating the Way, but hardly more than one would achieve true
liberation. Only by reciting/contemplating the Buddha's way or
name, can one gain deliverance from endless cycles of birth and
death)
This well-known Buddhist quote is supported by the Larger
Amitabha sutra (无量寿经). The verse is as follows:
The Buddha further said, "I have expounded this teaching for the
sake of sentient beings and enabled you to see Amitayus and
all in his land. Strive to do what you should.
After I have passed into Nirvana, do not allow doubt to arise.
In the future, the Buddhist
scriptures and teachings will perish.
But, out of pity and compassion, I
will especially preserve this sutra and maintain it in the world
for a hundred years
more. Those beings who encounter it will
attain deliverance in accord with their
aspirations.
http://www12.canvas.ne.jp/horai/dai-41-48.htm
All teachings will disappear except for those that preaches the
Amitabha Buddha's Pureland and the methods to achieve rebirth in
that Buddhaland.
This is how severe the situation is in our Dharma-ending age. It
is not to scare anyone or to discourage anyone, but to see the real
alternatives before us.
Although many have gained enlightenment as
pointed out by AEN, this is still considerably very
insignificant when compared to the Buddha's time or considering the
total population of the world or true Buddhist practitioners
in our era.
Those enlightened beings that we may or may not know or heard
from others, we do not know if all of them has indeed attained
complete liberation from countless cycles of birth and death,
for which in my opinion and from Buddhist sutras would be
considered least basic and true achievement of one's
enlightment.
If any dharma door that you learn at this lifetime cannot
guarantee that you gain liberation from life and death for future
lifetimes, then it can be considered to be irrelevant or useless
for you.
All dharma doors preached by the Buddha are right in that they
all lead to liberation; but it is dependent on the individual's
karmic affinity and good karma. Choosing the wrong dharma door will
mean you may take an unnecessarily long time to be finally free
from rebirth, enlightment in the form of Arahant or Bodhisattva is
just a convenient reference point.
