an 'Independently Enlightened One'; or
Separately or Individually (=pacceka) Enlightened One (renderings by
'Silent' or 'Private Buddha' are not very apt).
This is a term for an Arahat (s.
ariya-puggala) who has realized Nibbāna without having heard the
Buddha's doctrine from others. He comprehends the 4 Noble Truths individually
(pacceka), independent of any teacher, by his own effort. He has, however,
not the capacity to proclaim the Teaching effectively to others, and therefore
does not become a 'Teacher of Gods and Men', a Perfect or Universal Buddha (sammā-sambuddha).
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Pacceka-buddhas are described as frugal of speech, cherishing solitude.
According to tradition, they do not arise while the Teaching of a Perfect Buddha
is known; but for achieving their rank after many eons of effort, they have to
utter an aspiration before a Perfect Buddha.
Canonical references are few; Pug. 29 (defin.); A.II.56; in
M.116, names of many Pacceka-buddhas are given; in D.16 they are said to be
worthy of a thūpa (dagoba); the Treasure-Store Sutta (Nidhikhandha
Sutta, Khp.) mentions pacceka-bodhi; the C. Nidd. ascribes to individual
Pacceka-buddhas the verses of the Rhinoceros Sutta (Khaggavisāna Sutta, Sn.) -
See bodhi.
See The Pacceka-Buddha, by Ria Kloppenborg (WHEEL 305/307).
See Pacceka-Buddha in
the Pali Proper Names Dictionary.

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