VI: Sumedha’s Reflection on the Perfections – 80 

 

then ordered to be clubbed to death and buried in the charnel ground. 
Sunanda the charioteer took him there in a chariot, and while he was 
digging the grave, Temiya spoke to him and expressed his wish to lead an 
ascetic life. The matter was reported to the palace, and the king and queen 
rushed to the scene. But after listening to a discourse delivered by Temiya, 
who was now an ascetic, they all joined him by becoming ascetics 
themselves. 

9. The Perfection of Loving-Kindness 

After discovering and reflecting on the perfection of resolution, he discovered 
loving-kindness as the ninth perfection which former Bodhisattas had always 
cultivated and fulfilled. Then he admonished himself (Bv 157-158): 

“Sumedha, if you are desirous of attaining the knowledge of the paths, 
fruitions and omniscience, you should constantly establish the perfection 
of loving-kindness and make efforts to cultivate and practise the 
meditation of loving-kindness (

mettā-bhāvanā

) in a peerless manner.” 

He continued to admonish himself (Bv 159-160): 

“Water suffuses with coolness all who bathe, the virtuous and the wicked 
alike, and cleanses them of dust and dirt. Likewise, Sumedha, you should 
develop goodwill equally towards those who wish for your welfare and 
those who do not. When you are accomplished in fulfilling the perfection 
of loving-kindness, you will attain knowledge of the paths, fruitions and 
omniscience.” 

10. The Perfection of Equanimity 

After discovering and reflecting on the perfection of loving-kindness, he went 
on to contemplate thus (Bv 161): 

“These nine alone cannot constitute the Buddha-making factors. There 
must be other perfections that also contribute to the maturity of the 
knowledge of the paths, fruitions and omniscience. I shall investigate 
them.” 

When he investigated thus, he discovered equanimity as the tenth perfection 
which former Bodhisattas had always cultivated and fulfilled. Then he 
admonished himself (Bv 162-163):