Miscellaneous Topics – 2306 

 

foundation of tranquillity becomes perfect. At that time too, because the purpose 
of wisdom is achieved, the foundation of wisdom becomes perfect. That is the 
view of the secondary (

apare

) teachers. 

Without making any criticism of their view, the commentator, Ven. Mahā 
Dhammapāla, gives his own interpretation as a supplement to it: 1) The 
perfection of the foundation of truthfulness is particularly evident at the time of 
the Bodhisatta’s birth; 2) the perfection of the foundation of wisdom is 
particularly evident at the time of his Awakening; 3) the perfection of the 
foundation of abandoning is particularly evident when he makes the great gift 
of Dhamma by delivering the Dhamma Wheel (

Dhamma-cakka

) discourse; 4) 

the perfection of the foundation of tranquillity is particularly evident when he 
realizes Parinibbāna. 

To summarise the various views of different teachers: 

1.   Certain (

eke

) teachers say that the four foundations become perfect on 

the first occasion, when conception takes place in the last existence. 

2.   Some (

keci

) teachers say that the four foundations become perfect on 

the second occasion, when Awakening is attained. 

3.   Other (

aññe

) teachers say that the four foundations become perfect on 

the third occasion, when the Dhamma Wheel (

Dhamma-cakka

) 

discourse is delivered. 

4.   Secondary (

apare

) teachers say that the four foundations become 

perfect on the fourth occasion, when Parinibbāna is realized. 

Following the tradition of authors, who express last in their works the view they 
endorse, Ven. Mahā Dhammapāla mentions last the secondary theories (

apare 

vāda

) because he approves of it and accepts it with a supplementary remark, 

which is: “The four foundations become perfect only on the fourth occasion, 
when Parinibbāna is realized, as stated by the secondary (

apare

) teachers. 

However, it is particularly evident that the foundation of truthfulness is perfect 
at the time of the first event; the foundation of wisdom at the time of the second 
event; the foundation of abandoning at the time of the third event; and the 
foundation of tranquillity at the time of the fourth event.”