Esoteric Buddhism.

  • Alfred Percy Sinnett
Date:
1898
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Esoteric Buddhism. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    5 idea as to what sort of person an Arhat really is, as to the life he leads while on earth, and what he anticipates later on. But the elucidation of such points may be postponed for the moment. Some further passages from exoteric treatises may first be selected to show what an Arhat is generally sup- posed to be. Mr. Rhys Davids, speaking of Jhana and Samadhi the belief that it was possible by intense self- absorption to attain supernatural faculties and powers—goes on to say “ So far as I am aware, no instance is recorded of any one, not either a member of the order, or a Brahmin ascetic, acquir- ing these powers. A Buddha always possessed them; whether Arahats, as such, could work the particular miracles in question, and whether of mendicants only, Arahats or only Asekhas could do so, is at present not clear.” Very little in the sources of information on the subject that have hitheito been explored will be found clear. But I am now merely endeavouring to show that Buddhist literature teems with allusions to the greatness and powers of the Arhats. For more intimate knowledge concerning them, special cir- cumstances must furnish us with the required explanations. Mr. Arthur Lillie, in “ Buddha and Early Buddhism/’ tells us Six supernatural faculties were expected of the ascetic before he could claim the grade ol Arhat. They are constantly alluded O m the Sutras as the six supernatural faculties, usually without further specification Man has a body composed of the four elements . ,