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Bodhi (बोधि) is the Pāli and Sanskrit word for the "awakened" or "knowing" Consciousness of a fully liberated yogi, generally translated into English as "enlightenment". It is an abstract noun formed from the verbal root ''budh'' (to awake, become aware, notice, know or understand), corresponding to the verbs '''bujjhati''' (Pāli) and '''bodhati''' or '''budhyate''' (Sanskrit). The term Bodhi is mostly used in Buddhist context. In Early Buddhism, Bodhi carries a meaning synonimous to attains only Nirvana, thus still being subject to delusion, while the Bodhisattva attains Bodhi. In Theravada Buddhism, Bodhi and Nirvana carry the same meaning, that of being freed from craving, hate and delusion. IN THERAVADA BUDDHISM In Buddhism, ''bodhi'' means the awakening experience attained by ). Bodhi is most commonly translated into English as ''enlightenment''. This word conveys the insight and understanding (wisdom) possessed by a Buddha and is similarly used in Christian Mysticism to convey the Saint 's condition of being lit by a higher power - the merging of the human and the divine in Theosis . There is no image of "light" contained in the term "bodhi", however. Rather, it expresses the notion of awakening from a dream and of being aware and Knowing ( Reality ). It is thus more accurate to think of bodhi as spiritual "awake-ness" or "awakenment", rather than "enlightenment" (although it is true that imagery of light is extraordinarily prevalent in many of the Buddhist scriptures). Bodhi is attained when the Ten Fetters that bind a human being to the wheel of samsara have been dissolved; when the Four Noble Truths have been fully understood and all volitional conditioning has reached cessation (nirodha), giving rise to transcendent peace ( Nibbana ). At this moment, the psychological roots of all greed (''lobha''), aversion (''dosa''), delusion (''moha''), ignorance (''avijjā''), Craving (''tanha'') and Ego-centered Consciousness (''attā'') are completely uprooted. Bodhi is the ultimate goal of Buddhist life (brahmacarya). It is achieved by observing the Eightfold Path , the development of the Paramita s (virtues) and profound Wisdom into the Dependently Arisen nature of phenomena. BODHI IN THE MAHAYANA SUTRAS Certain Mahayana Buddhist Sutras stress that bodhi is always present and perfect, and simply needs to be "uncovered" or disclosed to purified vision. Thus the "Sutra of Perfect Awakening" has the Buddha teach that, like gold within its ore, bodhi is always there within the being's mind, but requires the obscuring mundane ore (the surrounding defilements of Samsara and of impaired, unawakened perception) to be removed. The Buddha declares: "Good sons, it is like smelting gold ore. The gold does not come into being because of smelting ... Even though it passes through endless time, the nature of the gold is never corrupted. It is wrong to say that it is not originally perfect. The Perfect Enlightenment of the Tathagata {Link without Title} is also like this." Similar doctrines are encountered in the Tathagatagarbha sutras, which tell of the immanent presence of the Buddha Principle (''Buddha-dhatu''/ Buddha-nature or Dharmakaya / Dhammakaya ) within all beings. Here, the Tathagatagarbha (Buddha-Matrix) is tantamount to the indwelling transformative and liberational power of bodhi, which bestows an infinitude of unifying vision. The Buddha of the Shurangama Sutra states: "My uncreated and unending profound Enlightenment accords with the Tathagatagarbha, which is absolute bodhi, and ensures my perfect insight into the Dharma Realm of Ultimate Truth , where the one is infinite and the infinite is one." Modes of Enlightenment The following is specific to Mahayana doctrine only: ''Sāvaka-Bodhi'' (Arhat) Those who study the teaching of a Samma-sambuddha and then attain enlightenment in this world are known as arhats. Such beings are skilled at helping others to reach enlightenment, as they may draw on personal experience. ''Pacceka-Bodhi'' (Pratyeka) Those who obtain enlightenment through self-realisation, without the aid of spiritual guides and teachers, are known as Pratyekabuddha s. According to the '' Tripitaka '', such beings only arise in ages where the Dharma has been lost. Their skill in helping others to obtain enlightenment is inferior to that of the Arhat s and it also takes more time for them to accumulate Paramis . Many pratyekas may arise at a single time. ''Sammā-Sambodhi'' (supreme Buddha) These are perfect, most developed, most compassionate, most loving, all-knowing beings who fully comprehend the '' Dhamma '' by their own efforts and wisdom and teach it skillfully to others, freeing them from Samsāra . One that develops sammā-sambodhi is known as samma-sambuddha, and it is needed much more time of Parami accumulation here than to become a Pratyekabuddha . A sammā-sambodhi is the one who gives rise to the path (previously) unarisen, who engenders the path (previously) unengendered, who points out the path (previously) not pointed out. He knows the path, is expert in the path, is adept at the path. And his disciples now keep following the path and afterwards become endowed with the path, this is the difference between an arahant and a buddha. QUOTES : ''When you get to this, then thoughts become still without being stilled, calmness and insight arise without being produced, the mind of the buddha appears without being revealed. To try to liken it to the body of cosmic space or the light of a thousand suns would be to be further away than the sky is from the earth.'' : — Wei-tse : ''If you believe you are enlightened, you are actually a little bit crazy.'' : Taisen Deshimaru SEE ALSO NOTES EXTERNAL LINKS
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