A-la-hán

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Arhat: The highest sainthood in Theravada Buddhism, a practitioner who has eradicated all defilements and delusions, has escaped the cycle of birth and death (samsara), and is worthy of the world's reverence and offerings.
   • One who has attained that state: A title for a monk or practitioner who has achieved this level of enlightenment.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Trong chùa có thờ tượng các vị A-la-hán. (The temple houses statues of Arhats.)
  • Ngài được tôn xưng là một vị A-la-hán. (He is revered as an Arhat.)
  • Quả vị A-la-hán là mục tiêu của nhiều nhà sư theo truyền thống Nguyên thủy. (The Arhat stage is the goal for many monks in the Theravada tradition.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in doctrinal contexts to discuss the path and goal of early Buddhism, in contrast with the Bodhisattva ideal of Mahayana Buddhism.
• "La-hán": A common shortened form of "A-la-hán," frequently used in compound terms.
  • Chùa có bộ tượng Thập Bát La Hán rất nổi tiếng. (The temple has a very famous set of statues of the Eighteen Arhats.)

Variants and Related Words

• La Hán (n): Arhat. The shortened, more common vernacular form.
• A-la-hán quả (n): The fruit or stage of Arhatship.
• Thập Bát La Hán (n): The Eighteen Arhats, a common group depicted in temple art.

Synonyms

• Arhat: (Direct transliteration and equivalent)
• Perfected One: (A descriptive translation)
• Worthy One: (A common English translation of the term's meaning)

Related Terms (Buddhist Context)

• Phật (n): Buddha. A fully enlightened being who discovers and teaches the path.
• Bồ Tát (n): Bodhisattva. In Mahayana Buddhism, an enlightened being who postpones nirvana to help all sentient beings.
• Niết Bàn (n): Nirvana. The ultimate goal, the extinguishing of suffering, attained by an Arhat.