Pratyeka-Buddhas or Solitary Realizers are those who attain liberation without the help of a guru or Buddha in that lifetime. They also remain in seclusion and do not teach the dharma to others. They generally obtain this level by realizing the truth of the twelve links of dependent origination. Like the Arhat, this is not a true Buddha nor as virtuous a state as that of a Bodhisattva who out of a compassionate concern for others is motivated to teach the path of liberation to others. Having the true “mind of enlightenment,” the Bodhisattvas only act out of bodhichitta.
