Lokottaravda

Lokottaravda is a philosophical concept primarily found within Mahayana Buddhism. It refers to that which is "beyond the mundane" or "transcendent." This concept distinguishes between ordinary phenomena, which are subject to the laws of karma and rebirth, and enlightened phenomena, which transcend these limitations. The Buddha, having attained enlightenment, is often described as existing in a lokottara state. This means his actions, perceptions, and very being are no longer bound by the ordinary conditions of samsara.

The understanding of lokottaravda is crucial for comprehending the Mahayana view of Buddhahood. It implies that the enlightened mind operates on a different level of reality, one that is not accessible to those still caught in the cycle of suffering. This transcendence is not about being in a different physical location but about a fundamental transformation of consciousness. While ordinary beings experience the world through a lens of attachment, aversion, and ignorance, a lokottara being perceives reality directly, free from these afflictions.

The concept helps to explain the miraculous abilities often attributed to Buddhas and bodhisattvas, suggesting these are not supernatural powers in the worldly sense, but expressions of their transcendent nature. It underscores the ultimate goal of Buddhist practice: to move beyond the lokiya (mundane) and attain the lokottara.