Three types of Buddha
Three types of Buddha There are traditionally three types of Buddha, the most important of which is the Samma Sammbuddha (Skt, Samyaksam Buddha) or Universal Buddha. A Universal Buddha rediscovers the Dharma (the Truth regarding Existence) on his own and teaches others the Dharma. In our own age this Universal Buddha is represented by Siddhattha Gotama (Skt, Siddhartha Gautama). He is considered a great Buddha because he was an exceptional teacher of the Dharma, and his sermons are recorded as suttas or sutras, which provide the basis of Buddhism as a religion. Of the other two types of Buddha, a Savaka Buddha (Skt, Sravaka Buddha) is a person who has become enlightened through acquaintance with the teaching of a Universal Buddha. A Pacceka Buddha (Skt, Pratekya Buddha) is someone who has become enlightened purely through his or her own wisdom (without the instruction of a Universal Buddha) but who has no cannot or chooses not to teach the Dharma to others. In Theravada Buddhism a Buddha is also called an arhat though in Mahayana Buddhism this term may only refer to Savaka Buddhas. |A Tang Dynasty sculpture of Amitabha Buddha, found in the Hidden Stream Temple Cave, Longmen Grottoes, China indicates.
