Prophecy of future enlightenment: Buddhism Enlightenment Dictionary on Prophecy of future enlightenment

Prophecy of future enlightenment

(Skt.: vyakarana; Pali.: veyüakarana; Jpn.: juki or kibetsu or wagarana)

A Buddha's prediction that a disciple (or disciples) will attain enlightenment in the future. One of the twelve divisions of the teachings, vyakarana is rendered as the prophecy of future enlightenment and indicates the part of a sutra in which Shakyamuni Buddha pronounces that a practitioner will attain Buddhahood in a future existence. Such prophecies are common in Mahayana sutras.

The Lotus Sutra contains a number of passages in which the Buddha predicts enlightenment for his disciples and foretells what their titles as future Buddhas will be as well as the names of their respective kalpas (eras) and Buddha lands.

In the "Simile and Parable" (third) chapter of the Lotus Sutra, Shakyamuni Buddha predicts the enlightenment of Shariputra, and in the "Bestowal of Prophecy" (sixth) chapter, Shakyamuni predicts enlightenment for the four great voice-hearers, Mahakashyapa, Subhuti, Katyayana, and Maudgalyayana. In the "Five Hundred Disciples" (eighth) and the "Prophecies" (ninth) chapters, Shakyamuni predicts enlightenment for other individual disciples as well as for groups of disciples, thousands in all. According to the Jataka, stories of the Buddha's previous lives, in a past existence Shakyamuni himself received a prophecy of enlightenment from the Buddha Burning Torch (Skt Dipamkara).

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For articles related to Prophecy of future enlightenment , see:, Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment Dictionary, Prophecy of future enlightenment

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The text about Prophecy of future enlightenment is extracted from "The Soka Gakkai Dictionary of Buddhism", Seikyo Press

With more than 2,600 entries, this new dictionary provides comprehensive definitions for a vast array of terms, concepts, historical incidents, scriptures, commentaries and other references related to Nichiren Buddhism and the Lotus Sutra. An invaluable aid in the study and understanding of Buddhism.

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