Lecture Notes on the Sūtra of the Collection of the Father and Son (219)

The Difference Between Arhats and Bodhisattvas

The nirvāṇa realized by arhats is one in which, after the five aggregates of the physical body have been extinguished, the physical body never arises again—incinerating the body and extinguishing wisdom. They neither continue to study and practice the Buddha's teachings nor benefit and bring joy to sentient beings; their compassionate minds are meager. They themselves have no desire to become Buddhas, nor can they lead sentient beings to attain Buddhahood together. Therefore, the arhats' nirvāṇa without remainder is not ultimate. The most ultimate nirvāṇa is the non-abiding nirvāṇa realized by the Buddha, who never abandons any sentient being. The mental conduct of bodhisattvas differs from that of arhats: although they are capable of entering nirvāṇa without remainder, they do not enter it. Life after life, they cultivate and realize the Buddha's teachings within the three realms, continuously benefiting themselves while also guiding and benefiting sentient beings. Thus bodhisattvas are greater than arhats, more compassionate than arhats, possess greater wisdom than arhats, and have more vast supernatural powers than arhats.