Expert: Bodhicitta - 5/26/2006

Question
THank you for your recent answer. Was Buddha considered a prophet? And how would Buddha look at Jesus Christ? A prophet?  When Buddha reached 'enlightenment' does that mean he was able to see the future and the past, that some spiritual means communicated with him.  How would one know who is truely a prophet verses a self proclaimed prophet that may only have an idea or vision.

Answer
Hello Bill,
thanks for your follow-up questions.

"Was Buddha considered a prophet?".
I am not sure what your definition of the term "prophet" is? Your question is in the realm of interreligious
comparisons. Here we can only have opinions and there
are no real answers. To understand one religion is
work enough for most of us! But here is what I can guess at.

The term "prophet" is used a lot in Christian, Hebrew
and Islam religions  the so called  "Abrahamic" religions.
The term prophet appears to equate to the the voice of God. In Buddhism
as we have said there is no believe in the creator God.
So there are no prophets in this sense.

I would be interested in your definition of the term
prophet?

"And how would Buddha look at Jesus Christ? A prophet?"

It is a hypothetical question. I have no experience
or way of answering this question.

"When Buddha reached 'enlightenment' does that mean he was able to see the future and the past"

According to the Buddhist texts the Buddhas have supramundane knowledge of how the the past, present
and future actions of beings work. There is some information
on the powers of Buddha's in the Buddhist texts.

"that some spiritual means communicated with him."
The Buddhist path is about finding our real nature
or the Buddha (awakened) nature of one's own mind. The Buddhas are beings who have realised this. They are reality. Every being has that potential in their heart and minds but for most of us it is a long way off. It is a path
of spiritual evolution.The Buddhas quite simply are in
touch with reality and are not confused. they are not
the voice of some external god they have found their
own voice. I do not know if that makes sense?


"How would one know who is truely a prophet verses a self proclaimed prophet that may only have an idea or vision."
Indian culture and texts do contain commentaries on how
to find a true  guru or teacher. We in the West are very ignorant about this. At the end of the day though it comes down to working with a teacher for a time period on a trial
basis and testing them and examining their teachings
and students. Then you must use your best judgement.
Making mistakes is all part of the search too - and that
is ok.

Not sure if this helpful for you Bill?

Bodhicitta
http://www.bodhicitta.co.uk

working with a Guru over a period of time