3 types of Buddha

Three types of Buddha

Buddhists (both Nikaya and Mahayana traditions) accept that there are three types of Buddha, and generally accept their definitions as follows:

• Samyaksambuddhas (Pali: Sammāsambuddha): (also known in the Mahayana as Bodhisattva-Buddhas) gain Nirvana by their own efforts, without a teacher of the entire path. They may then lead others to Enlightenment by teaching the Dharma in a time or world where it has been forgotten or has not been taught before, because a Samyaksambuddha does not depend upon a tradition that stretches back to a previous Samyaksambuddha, but instead discovers the path anew.

• Pratyekabuddhas (Pali: Paccekabuddha): are similar to Samyaksambuddha, in that they attain Nirvana by themselves, but they remain silent and keep the discovered Dharma to themselves.

• Sravakabuddhas (Pali: Savakabuddhas): gain Nirvana, but attain Enlightenment by hearing the Dharma as initially taught by a Samyaksambuddha. After attaining enlightenment, Sravakabuddhas might also lead others to enlightenment, but cannot teach the Dharma in a time or world where it has been forgotten or has not been taught before, because they depend upon a tradition that stretches back to a Samyaksambuddha.

source Wikipedia (rules, yeah yeah yeah)