Is every Buddha and Arahant omnibenevolent?

A discussion on all aspects of Theravāda Buddhism
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smokey
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Is every Buddha and Arahant omnibenevolent?

Post by smokey »

In Dhammapada (Brahmans) verse 412 it says: "He has gone beyond attachment here for both merit & evil — sorrowless, dustless, & pure: he's what I call a brahman."
So my question is: Is every Buddha and Arahant omnibenevolent?
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Re: Is every Buddha and Arahant omnibenevolent?

Post by DNS »

smokey wrote: So my question is: Is every Buddha and Arahant omnibenevolent?
Yes. Even a sotapanna cannot purposely or intentionally violate a precept. The arahant all the more so only acts with metta, karuna, upekkha, and mudita.
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Re: Is every Buddha and Arahant omnibenevolent?

Post by rowyourboat »

I hesitate to answer 'yes' to that question. The point of the dhamma is not sila- it is vimutti/liberation (see the ratahavinita sutta). So if you ask me did the Buddha never say a harsh word- the answer is no- he did so, sometimes to get errant monks on to the right path. It was very pragmatic- with one aim in mind- the cessation of suffering. (not to say the end justified the means either) ..but catch-all phrases can be misleading..
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retrofuturist
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Re: Is every Buddha and Arahant omnibenevolent?

Post by retrofuturist »

Greetings smokey,
smokey wrote:"He has gone beyond attachment here for both merit & evil — sorrowless, dustless, & pure: he's what I call a brahman."
So my question is: Is every Buddha and Arahant omnibenevolent?
Towards what... people or actions or something/everything else etc.?

Metta,
Retro. :)
"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
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smokey
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Re: Is every Buddha and Arahant omnibenevolent?

Post by smokey »

retrofuturist wrote:Greetings smokey,
smokey wrote:"He has gone beyond attachment here for both merit & evil — sorrowless, dustless, & pure: he's what I call a brahman."
So my question is: Is every Buddha and Arahant omnibenevolent?
Towards what... people or actions or something/everything else etc.?

Metta,
Retro. :)
Well, are Buddhas and Arahants perfectly good in both actions, towards people and in morality? That would be my question.
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smokey
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Re: Is every Buddha and Arahant omnibenevolent?

Post by smokey »

I think I may have found an answer to my question in Dhammapada, Chapter IX, verse 122.

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

"Don't underestimate merit ('It won't amount to much'). A water jar fills, even with water falling in drops. With merit — even if bit by bit, habitually — the enlightened one fills himself full. "
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Re: Is every Buddha and Arahant omnibenevolent?

Post by retrofuturist »

Greetings Smokey,

I ask because the Buddha was often critical of wrong views and wrong actions because they were harmful, but not because they caused him any personal suffering.

Is that "omnibenevolent" in your book?

Metta,
Retro. :)
"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
Individual
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Re: Is every Buddha and Arahant omnibenevolent?

Post by Individual »

smokey wrote:In Dhammapada (Brahmans) verse 412 it says: "He has gone beyond attachment here for both merit & evil — sorrowless, dustless, & pure: he's what I call a brahman."
So my question is: Is every Buddha and Arahant omnibenevolent?
A better quote in the suttas, somewhere, it says that Buddhists cultivate boundless compassion. But compassion isn't always what we'd call "nice". For example, sometimes a compassionate parent needs to scream at or punish their child.

Boundless compassion might not be the same as what you mean by "omnibenevolence".
The best things in life aren't things.

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smokey
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Re: Is every Buddha and Arahant omnibenevolent?

Post by smokey »

retrofuturist wrote:Greetings Smokey,

I ask because the Buddha was often critical of wrong views and wrong actions because they were harmful, but not because they caused him any personal suffering.

Is that "omnibenevolent" in your book?

Metta,
Retro. :)
Yes, I suppose it is.
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smokey
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Re: Is every Buddha and Arahant omnibenevolent?

Post by smokey »

I am not enlightened so I have opinions, Buddhas have no opinions, so my opinion is that Buddhas and Arahants are omnibenevolent. They cannot purposely violate any of the precepts nor commit any wrong doing. If Buddha was often critical of wrong views that was of benevolent and good intention, so no harm was done.
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