Miscellaneous Topics – 2304 

 

This is the interpretation by

 

certain (

eke

) teachers. The commentator, Ven. 

Mahā Dhammapāla, gives no comment on this

 

theory (

eke vāda

). 

Some Teachers 

According to some (

keci

) teachers, the four foundations are completely fulfilled 

only on the occasion of becoming a Buddha. Their interpretation is: When he 
becomes a Buddha attaining the path-knowledge of an Arahat (

Arahatta-magga-

ñāṇa

) and omniscience through the past accumulation of the foundation of 

truthfulness in accordance with his vow, he penetrates the four noble truths; 
hence the foundation of truthfulness is fully accomplished then. Through the 
past accumulation of the foundation of abandoning, he eradicates all the 
defilements; hence the foundation of abandoning is fully accomplished then. 
Through the past accumulation of the foundation of tranquillity, he achieves the 
most sublime peace of Nibbāna when he becomes a Buddha, hence the 
foundation of tranquillity is fully accomplished then. Through the past 
accumulation of the foundation of wisdom, he achieves the unobstructed 
knowledge of all there is to know (

anāvaraṇa-ñāṇa

); hence the foundation of 

wisdom is fully accomplished then. 

This is the interpretation by some (

keci

) teachers, on which the commentator, 

Ven. Mahā Dhammapāla, remarks: “Their statement is imperfect because Full 
Awakening (

Abhisambodhi

), which is the path-knowledge of an Arahat or 

omniscience, is purely absolute reality; because the foundation of tranquillity 
means extinction through non-arising of the suffering of Saṁsāra or complete 
peace; and because this is attainable only on realization of Nibbāna or 
Parinibbāna.” 

Other Teachers 

Other (

aññe

) teachers, however, say that the four foundations are completely 

fulfilled on the occasion when the discourse on the Dhamma Wheel (

Dhamma-

cakka

) is taught, when the Buddha develops the knowledge of teaching (

desanā-

ñāṇa

). 

This is how other (

aññe

) teachers explain their view: The mental continuum of 

the Buddha, who has in the past made an accumulation of the foundation of 
truthfulness, becomes accomplished in it by teaching the noble truths in three 
modes of the knowledge that it is the truth (

sacca-ñāṇa

); the knowledge that a 

certain function, with regard to that truth, has to be performed (

kicca-ñāṇa

);