The First Treatise on the Perfections – 2585 

 

abandoning of slackness and inefficiency; 3) the foundation of 
tranquillity, which is extinction of harm caused by demerit; 4) the 
foundation of wisdom, which is wisdom playing a dominant role. 
Having enjoyed the benefit of these four foundations; the Bodhisatta 
keeps on developing the perfection of energy more earnestly. 

5.   While in the course of fulfilling the perfection of meditation, the 

Bodhisatta comes to enjoy the benefit accruing from: 1) The foundation 
of truthfulness, which is thinking deeply about and seeking the welfare 
of the world in accordance with his vow; 2) the foundation of 
abandoning, which is abandoning of demeritorious hindrances 
(

nīvaraṇa

); 3) the foundation of tranquillity which is peace of mind; 4) 

the foundation of wisdom which is wisdom playing a dominant role. 
Having enjoyed the benefit of these four foundations, the Bodhisatta 
keeps on developing the perfection of meditation more earnestly. 

6.   While in the course of fulfilling the perfection of wisdom, the 

Bodhisatta comes to enjoy the benefit accruing from: 1) The foundation 
of truthfulness, which is skill in means and ways of 

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 promoting the 

welfare of others in accordance with his vow; 2) the foundation of 
abandoning, which is abandoning of wrong paths and actions; 3) the 
foundation of tranquillity, which is extinction of all forms of worries 
and anxieties caused through one’s ignorance; 4) the foundation of 
wisdom, which is wisdom playing a dominant role. Having enjoyed the 
benefit of these four foundations, the Bodhisatta keeps on developing 
the perfection of wisdom more earnestly. 

In this manner, with every act of merit in fulfilment of the perfections, there 
occur the four foundations; hence it is said that the six perfections may be 
included in the four foundations. 

The Four Foundations as One Foundation 

Just as the six perfections (

pāramī

) are included in the four foundations 

(

adhiṭṭhāna

), so also each of the four foundations may be counted as embracing 

the remaining three. 

Just like the foundation of truthfulness (

saccādhiṭṭhāna

); the foundation of 

abandoning (

cāgādhiṭṭhāna

), the foundation of tranquillity (

upasamādhiṭṭhāna

) 

and the foundation of wisdom (

paññādhiṭṭhāna

), being of the nature of faithful