1. Buddhism: The Goals
Therevada

2. Buddhism: The Goals
Buddhism eventually divided into two main branches following disagreements over what the Buddha actually taught.
Therevada – The Way of the Elders (Hinayana)
Mahayana – The Greater Vehicle

3. Therevada Scriptures called Tipitaka (3 Baskets)
Vinaya – book of discipline for monks containing 227 rules
Teachings of the Buddha – Dhammapada
Jakata Tales
Goal of monks to become an Arhat
One who has passed beyond the craving which binds us to samsaric existence
“Ah happy indeed the Arhat! In them is no craving found.”

4. Arhat
A person who has reached enlightenment by freeing him- or herself from greed, hatred and ignorance.
It takes a lifetime of dedication and study as a monk to reach this stage and few monks become Arhats.
They will not be reborn when they die as Parinibbana occurs at the death of an Arhant.

5. So what’s the difference between the Buddha and an Arhat?
A Buddha is one who discovers the supreme path with his own efforts, without help from a teacher.
The Arhat on the other hand achieves Buddhahood but with the guidance from a Buddha.

6. The Arhat The Arhat is the ultimate goal of all Theravadan Buddhists.
However, according to tradition lay Buddhists cannot achieve Arhatship.
So the goal of lay Therevadan Buddhists is to gain a better rebirth from which they might become a monk/nun.
It can take many rebirths to reach the stage where one has the optimum conditions to become an Arhat.

7. Is Arhatship a selfish goal?
Metta-bhavana (meditation on love) forms a central part of Theravada practice. The Buddha and his two main disciples, were arhats and, after achieving enlightenment, they led many other disciples to nibbana.