Pratyeka-Buddha 緣覺(辟支佛)

   "Enlightened by contemplation on dependent arising." A Chinese translation, In the early translations it was rendered 緣覺, i.e. enlightened through reasoning on the riddle of life, especially as defined in the twelve nida^nas. Later it was rendered 獨覺 or individual enlightenment, i.e. one who lives apart from others and attains enlightenment alone, or for himself, in contrast with the altruism of the bodhisattva principle. The term pratyekabuddha is not limited to Buddhists, but is also general for recluses pondering alone over the meaning of life, an illustration being the rhinoceros, which lives in isolation. The non-Buddhist enlightenment is illusion, e.g. from observing the 'flying flowers and falling leaves'; the Buddhist enlightenment arises from pondering over the twelve nida^nas. As a degree of saintship it is undefined by early Buddhism, receiving its definition at a later period.

   緣覺者又名獨覺，或辟支佛：佛典中之一種解脫者，此種解脫者並未隨佛聞法，而係獨自悟道之修行者，且性好寂靜孤獨，不稟佛教，無師獨悟，不事說法教化，故又稱獨覺。

   緣覺者：一，觀十二因緣之理而斷惑證理，一，因飛花落葉之外緣而自覺悟無常，斷惑證理。獨覺者，彼於無佛之世，宿因所萌，或觀十二因緣，或觀飛花落葉，而獨自覺悟也。觀十二因緣，覺真諦理，是名緣覺。（十二因緣者，一無明、二行、三識、四名色、五六入、六觸、七受、八愛、九取、十有、十一生、十二老死。）

   此種解脫者，與聲聞合稱二乘，若再增菩薩，則名為三乘。