rang sangs rgyas
those who are content with being independent, solitary realizer, pratyeka buddha (bse ru lta bu, tshogs dang spyod), Solitary Buddhas, solitary sage, solitary sage [JV]
solitary sage; Syn rang rgyal [RY]
self-centered buddhas/ pratyekabuddhas, self-made buddha, solitary realizer [IW]
rang rgyal pratyekabuddha/ solitary buddha [RB]
self-centered buddhas/ pratyekabuddhas [IW]
self-centred buddhas/pratyekabuddhas, self-made buddha, solitary realizer [srid pa tha ma'i tse slob dpon la ma ltos par rten cing 'brel bar 'byung ba'i chos nyid brtags nas gang zag bdag med dang chos kyi bdag med phyed tsam rtogs te rang byang chung mngon du brnyes pa'i dgra bcom pa,//syn: rkyen gcig rtogs dang, nyi tse'i sangs rgyas, rten 'brel sgom, rang rgyal sangs rgyas, rang byang chub, rang zhi don gnyer, sangs rgyas 'bring po, bse ru'i rgyal ba bcas so,. = rang rgyal, finding buddhahood for oneself/by oneself [tserig] [IW]
Pratyekabuddha. 'Solitarily Enlightened One.' One who has reached perfection in the second Hinayana vehicle chiefly through contemplation on the twelve links of dependent origination in reverse order [RY]
Self-realized Buddha [thd]
pratyekabuddha. self-made buddha, Solitary Realizer, someone who finds buddhahood for oneself / by oneself; one "who became Buddha by himself". Syn rang rgyal. Def. By Jamg?ongtr?ng rgyal slob dpon gzhan la ma ltos par rang gi byang chub rang gi shes rab kyi rtsal gyis mngon du byed pas na rang byang chub [RY]
Discussion[edit]
Self-buddha. The first part of the Tibetan word, rang, indicates that the Self-Buddha achieves enlightenment without relying on a teacher in his last existence. The word buddha means awakened. Commonly people use the Sanskrit term, but it is long and difficult for many English speakers, as well as opaque. There are three types of self buddha: rhino-like, greater actor in assembly, and lesser actor in assembly. The common translation "solitary realizer" is not acceptable for several reasons. First of all, self-buddhas are not necessarily solitary: those who act in assembly gather in groups of five hundred or more, which could hardly be called solitary. Secondly, the translation of the word buddha as "realizer" is ungainly and inconsistent. Thirdly, to put those two together makes a very awkward and unpoetic term. It seems unnecessary to qualify the word self with either "centered" or "realized." Other suggestions such as those who are content with being independent are not only wordy but also do not have any basis in scripture that I have seen.[DKC]