The Difference Between The Tathāgata and A Monk Liberated by Wisdom

Monks, The Tathāgata, the Arahant, The Perfectly Enlightened One, liberated by non-clinging through a fading away of strong feelings towards form, through its fading away and elimination, is called a Perfectly Enlightened One. A Monk liberated by wisdom, liberated by non-clinging through a fading away of strong feelings towards form, through its fading away and elimination, is called one liberated by wisdom.

The Tathāgata, the Arahant, The Perfectly Enlightened One, liberated by non-clinging through a fading away of strong feelings towards feeling, perception, volitional formations (choices/decisions), consciousness, through its fading away and elimination, is called a Perfectly Enlightened One.

A Monk liberated by wisdom, liberated by non-clinging through a fading away of strong feelings towards feeling, perception, volitional formations (choices/decisions), consciousness, through its fading away and elimination, is called one liberated by wisdom.

Therein, Monks, what is the distinction, what is the disparity, what is the difference between The Tathāgata, the Arahant, The Perfectly Enlightened One, and a Monk liberated by wisdom?

The Tathāgata, Monks, the Arahant, The Perfectly Enlightened One, is the originator of the path unarisen before, the producer of the path unproduced before, the declarer of the path undeclared before. He is the knower of the path, the discoverer of the path, the one skilled in the path. And his disciples now reside practicing that path and become possessed of it afterwards.

This, Monks, is the distinction, the disparity, the difference between The Tathāgata, the Arahant, The Perfectly Enlightened One, and a Monk liberated by wisdom.

(Reference: SN 22.58)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares the difference between a Buddha and a Practitioner who attains Enlightenment through the guidance of a Teacher.

A Buddha is one who (1) discovers The Teachings through their own independent journey, (2) shares their independently discovered Teachings for the remaining time of their life guiding countless individuals to Enlightenment and (3) leaves The Teachings in such a condition that after their death, countless more individuals will be able to attain Enlightenment.

As Gotama Buddha explains, he "is the originator of the path unarisen before, the producer of the path unproduced before, the declarer of the path undeclared before. He is the knower of the path, the discoverer of the path, the one skilled in the path.”

Through his declared Teachings, countless people during his lifetime and after his death have attained Enlightenment. Each person who attains Enlightenment with the guidance of Teachers is an Enlightened being, an Arahant, but they are not a Buddha.

A Buddha is an Enlightened being, an Arahant, but they attain this mental state on their own without the support and guidance of any Teachers. A Buddha is referred to as Fully Perfectly Enlightened because they have no influence from Teachers that would distort their perspective of what led to their Enlightenment. Their mind is completely pure without any pollution and permeates with wisdom of The Path to Enlightenment being able to guide countless individuals to Enlightenment.

Their independent journey to Enlightenment has produced deep wisdom of The Path to Enlightenment and, thus, prepares their mind for a lifetime of sharing The Teachings with those who choose to seek instruction, be taught, and be guided to experience Enlightenment.

A Practitioner who has attained Enlightenment through the guidance of Teachers is not a Buddha. This person is an Enlightened being, also referred to as an Arahant, but they are not a Buddha.

A Buddha is the discoverer of The Path to Enlightenment while an Enlightened being is liberated through the wisdom of a Buddha. A Buddha is extremely rare in the world and the last one currently known to the world existed over 2,500 years.