42: The Attributes of the Three Treasures – 1694
the Buddha accepts only a small amount of the gift, considering the weak
devotion of the supporter. If the gift is big and the supporter’s devotion is strong,
the Buddha accepts just an appropriate amount to satisfy his need. This is called
knowing the proper extent regarding the acceptance of alms food. In enjoying
the food thus collected, the Buddha never eats to the full but stops four or five
morsels short of filling his stomach. More important, he never takes food
without cultivating the monastic’s contemplation while eating.
4. Wakefulness (
jāgariyānuyoga
). Wakefulness does not mean just remaining
without sleep. The Buddha spends the whole day: during the first watch of the
night and the last watch of the night in meditation, while walking or sitting, thus
keeping away the hindrances. This purposeful waking is called wakefulness. Out
of 24 hours in a day, the Buddha sleeps just four hours, i.e., between 10p.m. and
[1110]
2a.m., to recuperate his energy; the remaining 20 hours are spent in
meditation and monastic practice.
The seven properties of virtuous persons:
5. Confidence in the Three Treasures (
saddhā
).
6. Mindfulness (
sati
).
7. Conscience about doing evil (
hiri
).
8. Concern about doing evil (
ottapa
).
9. Wide learning of the doctrine (
bāhu-sacca
).
10. Diligence (
viriya
).
11. Wisdom (
paññā
).
12-15. The four form realm absorptions (
jhāna
). These refer to the four
absorptions (
jhāna
) of the form realm under the fourfold reckoning of
absorptions (
jhāna
).
The above fifteen forms of good conduct lead straight to Nibbāna, the deathless
element, which as worldlings, the disciples never have realized before. Hence
they are called good conduct (
caraṇa
).
Knowledge (
vijjā
) and good conduct (
caraṇa
) are complementary to each other.
The former is like the eyes, whereas the latter is like the legs. To get to a desired
place the eyes without the legs cannot accomplish it any more than the legs