The First Treatise on the Perfections – 2503 

 

monkey, going to the rescue of a Brahmin who had fallen into a deep chasm. 
Exhausted by strenuous exertion to bring the man out of danger, the Bodhisatta 
trustingly fell asleep on the lap of the man whom he had saved. With an evil 
thought of eating the flesh of his rescuer the wicked man hit the monkey’s head 
with a stone. Without showing any anger and patiently bearing the injury on his 
head, the Bodhisatta continued his effort to save the man from the danger of 
wild beasts. He showed him the way out of the forest by drops of blood that fell 
as he jumped from tree to tree; 3) because he wished to show that a Bodhisatta, 
with tolerance, never relinquishes the practice of speaking only the truth 
steadfastly though he is misrepresented by others; and 4) because having taught 
the meditative reflection by means of which emptiness may be understood, the 
Bodhisatta wishes to show the knowledge of truth, developed through the 
process of that reflection (

dhamma-nijjhānakkhanti

). 

8. Resolution is mentioned immediately after truthfulness 1) because 
truthfulness is accomplished through resolution, since refraining from falsehood 
becomes perfect in one whose resolution to speak truth remains unshakeable 
even at the risk of his life; 2) because, after teaching truthfulness, he wishes to 
teach the resolute commitment of Bodhisattas to truth without wavering; and 3) 
because after teaching that only those who possess knowledge of the truth of 
things as they really are able to build up the perfections and bring them to 
completion, he wishes to teach that the requisites of the perfections can be 
effected as a result of the knowledge of truth. 

9. Loving-kindness is mentioned immediately after resolution 1) because 
development of loving-kindness helps fulfilment of resolution to undertake the 
work for the welfare of others; 2) because, after teaching resolution, the Buddha 
wishes to teach what brings benefit to others in accordance with his resolve, for 
a Bodhisatta, in the course of fulfilling his perfections, generally abides in 
loving-kindness; and 3) because when one is established imperturbably in 
determination to work for others’ welfare, can one carry out one’s wish with 
loving-kindness. 

10. Equanimity is mentioned immediately after loving-kindness 1) because 
equanimity purifies loving-kindness, and when one develops loving-kindness 
without equanimity, one is liable to be deceived by craving or greed that wears 
the mask of loving-kindness. Only when one develops equanimity, can one 
sometimes escape from the deceptive craving or greed; 2) because after teaching