Miscellaneous Topics – 2413
The paddy species which flowers, bears seeds and ripens only after a certain
period of time even when with utmost effort of watering, etc., will not yield a
crop at a date earlier than the natural period of flowering, bearing seeds and
ripening. In the same way, all the various types of Bodhisattas, by no means
become Buddhas before they have completed the allotted time for fulfilment of
the perfections even if they strive daily with more and more energy to fulfil the
perfections (
pāramī
), charity (
cāga
) and good conduct (
cariyā
), because their
wisdom has not yet reached maturity, and their accumulation of Buddha-making
factors is not complete yet.
Therefore, it should be clearly understood that the perfections become fulfilled
only after 4 immeasurables and 100,000 aeons for a Bodhisatta with
predominant wisdom; 8 immeasurables and 100,000 aeons for a Bodhisatta with
predominant faith; and 16 immeasurables and 100,000 aeons for a Bodhisatta
with predominant energy.
Aeons
The Cosmic Aeon
It is said in the Chronicles of the Buddhas (
Buddha-vaṁsa
, Bv 2.1):
Kappe ca
sata-sahasse, caturo ca asaṅkhiye
, “100,000 aeons, and four immeasurable
periods.” The duration of an aeon (
kappa
) cannot be calculated by the number of
years. It is known only by analogy. Suppose there is a big granary which is one
league each in length, breath and height and which is full of tiny mustard seeds.
You throw out just one seed each century. When all the mustard seeds have been
thrown out, the period called an aeon (
kappa
) has not come to an end yet. An
immeasurable period (
asaṅkhyeyya
) in this context means an immeasurable
amount of great aeons. A great aeon (
mahā-kappa
) is the time it takes for the
whole cycle of evolution and devolution.
An aeon/period (
kappa
) has six definitions:
1. A great aeon (
mahā-kappa
).
2. An immeasurable part of an aeon (
asaṅkhyeyya-kappa
).
3. An inclusive period (
antara-kappa
).
4. A lifetime (
āyu-kappa
).
5. A decreasing period (
hāyana-kappa
).