The First Treatise on the Perfections – 2586 

 

performance in keeping with the vow, may be included in the foundation of 
truthfulness. 

Just like the foundations of abandoning; truthfulness, tranquillity and wisdom 
being of the nature of abandoning of opposing factors, and being the result of 
total relinquishing, may be included in the foundation of abandoning. 

Just like the foundations of abandoning; truthfulness, tranquillity and wisdom, 
being of the nature of the extinction of all the heat caused by one’s deeds and 
defilements, may be included in the foundation of tranquillity. 

So too the foundations of truthfulness; abandoning and tranquillity, following 
wisdom as their leader, may be included in the foundation of wisdom. 

How the Foundations Bring Benefits 

Thus all the perfections have their commencement with the foundation of 
truthfulness; they become manifest through the foundation of abandoning; they 
grow and prosper through the foundation of tranquillity, and by means of the 
foundation of wisdom, they distance themselves from defilements and become 
purified of all of them. 

Furthermore, in the first phase of the perfections, the foundation of truthfulness 
plays a leading role; only with the foundation of truthfulness, fulfilment of the 
perfections can be commenced. In the middle phase, the foundation of 
abandoning takes the leading role; having commenced the fulfilment of the 
perfections with the foundation of truthfulness, it is continued in the middle 
phase by sacrificing totally one’s body and life for the welfare of others through 
the foundation of abandoning. In the final phase, the foundation of tranquillity 
takes over the leadership; only with the extinction of all the suffering of 
Saṁsāra, the task of fulfilling the perfections comes to an end. 

The foundation of wisdom is supreme throughout all the three phases of the 
beginning, the middle and the end. Only with wisdom can fulfilment of the 
perfections be commenced, total abandoning of one’s body and life can be made 
and final cessation of suffering of Saṁsāra can take place. 

All four foundations constantly promote the welfare of oneself and of others 
and cause one to be highly revered and loved by everyone. Of these four, 
through the foundation of truthfulness and the foundation of abandoning, the 
Bodhisatta, as a layman, benefits others with material gifts; and through the