The First Treatise on the Perfections – 2595
humans. Because his heart is filled with loving-kindness and compassion he is
not harmed by wild beasts, such as lions, leopards, tigers, etc. Being a person
possessed of extraordinary merit wherever he is reborn, he surpasses others in
beauty, fame, happiness, strength and sovereignty. He is free from ailments. He
has very pure faith, energy, mindfulness, concentration and wisdom. He has few
defilements and therefore he is easy to admonish. He is patient. He takes delight
in good deeds. He shows neither anger nor malice, nor does he denigrate others.
He is not given to rivalry, envy, jealousy, craftiness, hypocrisy. He is not
haughty, nor arrogant. He is calm. He is mindful of merit. Bearing with patience
the torments of others, he does not cause suffering to them. Wherever he resides,
whether in a town, a village, or a district, the place is free from dangers and
calamities. Whenever he is born through unfortunate circumstances in the
planes of misery such as in the Ussada
Niraya – as he was in one existence
before he was born as Prince Temiya – unlike other inhabitants there, he is not
distressed by intense suffering but develops even more and more a sense of
spiritual urgency.
Furthermore, the accomplishment of the lifespan (
āyu-sampadā
), the
accomplishment of physical form (
rūpa-sampadā
), the accomplishment of
family (
kula-sampadā
), the accomplishment of supremacy (
issariya-sampadā
),
the acceptability of speech (
adeyya-vacanatā
) and the greatness of power
(
mahānubhāvatā
) are also the advantages of the perfections.
The accomplishment of lifespan (
āyu-sampadā
) is longevity in whatever
existence he is reborn. With this accomplishment, the Bodhisatta finishes
whatever wholesome deed he has begun and develops greater meritoriousness.
The accomplishment of physical form (
rūpa-sampadā
) is beauty of physical
form. With this accomplishment, the Bodhisatta inspires beings, who appreciate
and value beauty of physical form, with confidence and esteem in him.
The accomplishment of family (
kula-sampadā
) is rebirth in a high class family.
With this accomplishment he is approached even by those intoxicated with the
vanity of their birth, etc.; he can therefore instruct them in order to cleanse
them of their pride.
The accomplishment of supremacy (
issariya-sampadā
) is greatness of wealth,
greatness of power and greatness of retinue. By means of this accomplishment,
the Bodhisatta is able to confer benefits, together with the four objects of