Arya

Arya (Skt. ārya; Tib. འཕགས་པ་, pakpa, Wyl. 'phags pa) literally means 'noble' or 'sublime'. The Tibetan word for Arya (pakpa) means 'elevated' or 'exalted', and refers to the exalted state, surpassing that of an ordinary, samsaric being, which is attained when reaching the path of seeing, whether as a shravaka, pratyekabuddha or bodhisattva.

Subdivisions

There are four classes of noble beings:

• arhats
• pratyekabuddhas
• bodhisattvas
• buddhas

Alternative Translations

• Spiritually advanced being (LCN)