The First Treatise on the Perfections – 2587 

 

foundation of tranquillity and the foundation of wisdom, the Bodhisatta, as an 
ascetic, benefits others with the gift of Dhamma. 

Through the foundation of truthfulness, purification of morality is effected; 
through the foundation of abandoning, purification of livelihood; through the 
foundation of tranquillity, purification of mind; and through the foundation of 
wisdom, purification of knowledge. 

In addition, through the foundation of truthfulness, because he does not deviate 
from truth, he does not follow the wrong course of hatred; through the 
foundation of abandoning, because he is not attached to sense objects, he does 
not follow the wrong course of greed; through the foundation of tranquillity, 
because he is faultless and since there is nothing to be afraid of, he does not 
follow the wrong course of fear; and through the foundation of wisdom, because 
he sees things as they really are, he does not follow the wrong course of delusion. 

Furthermore, through the foundation of truthfulness, he can tolerate, without 
anger, inconveniences caused by cold, heat, hunger; by contact with gadflies, 
mosquitoes, flies, wind, sun, reptiles; annoying insults and abuses of others and 
distressing ailments. Through the foundation of abandoning, he makes use of the 
four requisites of robes, alms food, dwelling and medicine, without attachment 
arising from greed. Through the foundation of tranquillity, he avoids the 
dangers of wild elephants, wild horses, wild cattle, wild dogs, etc., remaining 
absolutely calm. Through the foundation of wisdom, he dispels, without delusion, 
wrong thoughts of sense pleasure, ill-will and cruelty as well as demeritorious 
factors. 

Through the foundation of truthfulness, he achieves the happiness of 
renunciation; through the foundation of abandoning, of solitude; through the 
foundation of tranquillity, of peace; and through the foundation of wisdom, 
happiness associated with the fourfold knowledges of the path. 

Through the foundation of truthfulness, he achieves the happiness of the first 
absorption (

jhāna

); through 

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 the foundation of abandoning, of the second 

absorption; through the foundation of tranquillity, of the third absorption; 
through the foundation of wisdom, of the fourth absorption. 

Thus it should be understood how all the perfections are included in the four 
foundations accompanied by various attributes.