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Sanskrit: pratyekabuddha प्रत्येकबुद्ध
Pali: paccekabuddha
Chinese: dujue 獨覺
Tibetan: rang sangs rgyas རང་སངས་རྒྱས་
Definition
A pratyekabuddha, or “solitary buddha,” is an individual who attains awakening independently: they do not rely on the teachings of a Buddha in their final lifetime before attaining nirvāṇa. Unlike śrāvakas and bodhisattvas, pratyekabuddhas achieve enlightenment through solitary practice and contemplation.
Significance
The pratyekabuddha is a distinct archetype in Buddhist doctrine, embodying the potential for individual enlightenment. Buddhist texts discuss pratyekabuddhas as those who attain nirvāṇa without a teacher. In particular, they attain liberation when the teachings of a Buddha are not available in the world. And they do so by simply contemplating pratītyasamutpāda, “dependent origination.” This distinction separates them from śrāvakas, who require a Buddha’s teachings to become arhats, and from bodhisattvas, who seek buddhahood for the benefit of all beings.
The concept of pratyekabuddha emerges early in Buddhist literature and evolves within various traditions. In Mahāyāna texts, pratyekabuddhas are sometimes viewed within the context of mainstream Hīnayāna. Although their enlightenment is self-focused, pratyekabuddhas are depicted with reverence. Their solitary quest is regarded as a symbol of personal endeavor and deep effort.
In literature and art, pratyekabuddhas are frequently portrayed as ascetics living in isolation: they embrace a life of renunciation and meditative insight. The Rhinoceros Horn Sutta, for example, extols the virtues of solitary life, likening the pratyekabuddha to a lone rhinoceros horn: this was a symbol, in ancient India, of independence and singularity.
The storytelling aspect of pratyekabuddhas highlights the existence of diverse paths to enlightenment and reinforces the idea that liberation is attainable through various means. Unlike the Buddha, pratyekabuddhas do not establish a teaching lineage or a community. Still, they remain a powerful symbol of personal accomplishment and of the importance of solitary practice in the Buddhist tradition.
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