Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, when practicing deeply the Perfect Wisdom clearly saw that all five Skandhas are empty and passed beyond all suffering.
Sariputra, form does not differ from emptiness: Emptiness does not differ from form. Form then is emptiness. Emptiness then is form. Sensation, perception, volition, and consciousness, are also like this.
Sariputra, all Dharmas are marked with emptiness: not born and not dying, not stained and not pure, not gaining and not losing. Therefore, in emptiness there is no form, no sensation, perception, volition or consciousness. No eye, ear, nose, tongue, body or mind; nor form, sound, smell, taste, touch, or Dharmas; no realm of sight ‘til we come to no realm of consciousness; no ignorance and no ending of ignorance, ‘til we come to no old age and death, and no ending of old age and death. No suffering, origination, extinction, or path. No wisdom, and no attainment, with nothing to attain.
Because the Bodhisattva is the Perfect Wisdom of emptiness, his mind has no hindrance. Having no hindrance, there is no fear and far from all fantasy, he is dwelling in Nirvana.
Because all Buddhas of the three times practice the wisdom of emptiness, they gain complete and perfect enlightenment.
Therefore know, that Perfect Wisdom, is the great holy mantram, the great bright mantram, the wisdom mantram, the unequaled mantram, which can destroy all suffering---truly real and not false. So he gave the Perfect Wisdom mantram, which goes;
Ga te Ga te, Pa ra Ga te,
Pa ra sam Ga te,
Bodhi Swaha.
When a Buddhist realizes Enlightenment... The “Great Compassion” cannot but arise in his or her heart. He is no longer able to view the world in the same way he did before his Enlightenment. He can now see, feel, know, and understand... If one person is sick, hungry, homeless, or dying in the world... There is a part of him that is sick, hungry, homeless, or dying. He no longer feels separate and safe. He views the world as a sea of suffering and is directly connected to each and every suffering being, in the same way the ocean connects to each and every wave.
It’s really a choice all Buddhist practitioners make... To change themselves in a way that is of benefit to all living beings, and not just their ‘Self.' This transformation is founded on the direct experience of “Enlightenment" in Mahayana Buddhism. The path that leads to “Enlightenment” is called the ‘Path of the *Bodhisattva.’
Reconnecting to the world in this very special way, does not end the Bodhisattva’s suffering, however... In some ways Bodhisattva's may suffer more, but each time they help end the suffering of another being, their suffering is also eased. Each time they feed someone, clothe someone, shelter someone, comfort someone... Their suffering is transformed.
The path of the Bodhisattva is very difficult... There is no time out, they never take a vacation. Where would they go? Where is the place, no one suffers?
In the Theravada tradition, the Buddha was a Bodhisattva numerous times in his past lives and seemed to achieve Enlightenment many times before his Nirvana. The story of the Buddha's life as a Bodhisattva is found in an Early Buddhist text called the ‘Jataka Tales.'
In the Mahayana Tradition, the focus is on ‘Enlightenment,’ not Nirvana. The goal is to become a Bodhisattva, and then a Buddha. The Bodhisattva ends his/her suffering only in Buddhahood, and not before. In the Mahayana, it’s not so much... Do what the Buddha says... But, do what the Buddha did.
In the Theravada tradition, the focus is on Nirvana... Here and now. By following the teachings of the Buddha, he/she can become an *Arahant. Having crossed over the sea of suffering and landed on the other shore... The Arahant not only ends his suffering, but gains the ‘Compassion and Wisdom' of a Buddha to help end the suffering of others.
As with the Bodhisattva, the Arahant’s life is fully dedicated to the end of suffering. There is no rest so long as one person suffers. There is no place to go and nothing to do, other than be of service. The activity of the Bodhisattva and the Arahant is not determined by Self or ego, but by compassion and wisdom.
When all is said and done, are the path's of the Bodhisattva and Arahant the same? I don't think so, they appear to be different... But they both end and/or reduce suffering in the world.
Is Enlightenment the same as Nirvana? I think they mean different things. In my mind, the future Bodhisattva strives towards Enlightenment, and the future Arahant towards Nirvana.
In the Theravada tradition, the focus is on Nirvana, doing what the Buddha taught, and following the path of the Arahant to the ‘End of Suffering.’
In the Mahayana tradition, the focus is on Enlightenment, doing what the Buddha did, and following the path of the Bodhisattva to the ‘Wisdom of Emptiness.’
Before I end this portion of the presentation... One last point needs to be made... I have tried to share with you how Enlightenment and Nirvana may be different... But they are very much the same in this sense.
That in the end... In the Ultimate reality of Buddhism... Both the path of the Bodhisattva and the Arahant lead to the end of suffering. Just as the Buddha’s many past lives as a Bodhisattva finished in Buddhahood. Every path found in Buddhism will ultimately end in Nirvana!
I hope my explanation of Enlightenment and Nirvana will help you read the teaching’s of the Buddha with more clarity and insight.
Bodhisattva... Arahant... Enlightenment... Nirvana... The Wisdom of Emptiness... The End of Suffering... The choice is up to you!
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