Overview
According to orthodox Theravāda commentary, all Fully Awakened Buddhas teach the exact same Dhamma and possess the same ultimate enlightenment. However, the duration of their Bodhisatta training in saṃsāra varies depending on their dominant spiritual faculty.
The List
- Paññādhika Bodhisatta - Wisdom-predominant: A Bodhisatta who leans heavily on the faculty of wisdom. Because their understanding is sharp, they require the shortest time to perfect the Pāramīs (four incalculable eons and 100,000 great eons). Our historical Buddha, Gotama, belongs to this category.
- Saddhādhika Bodhisatta - Faith-predominant: A Bodhisatta who leans on the faculty of faith and devotion. They require a medium length of time to perfect the Pāramīs (eight incalculable eons and 100,000 great eons).
- Viriyādhika Bodhisatta - Energy-predominant: A Bodhisatta who leans on the faculty of sheer effort and heroic striving. They require the longest time to perfect the Pāramīs (sixteen incalculable eons and 100,000 great eons) before attaining Buddhahood.
Textual References
- Commentary: Madhuratthavilāsinī (Commentary to the Buddhavaṃsa) – Details the differences in the paths and timeframes of the past Buddhas based on these three temperaments.