Chapter 42
(6) All His mental actions, all His thoughts, are preceded by four kinds of full
comprehension, and all the mental actions follow the guidance of the fourfold
comprehension.
(7) The Perfectly Self-Enlightened One, endowed with the six exalted qualities, also
counted in eight ways, well possessed of these six exclusive attributes, is never
lacking, not having the slightest decline in the earnest desire that had arisen in Him
since as Bodhisatta Sumedha, to ferry cross the floundering multitudes to the safe
shore of NibbÈna, and in the will to achieve noble things beneficial to Himself and to
others, which is the exalted quality of
kÈma
itself.
(8) His Teaching, which has the sole object of liberating all deserving beings from the
woeful round of existences, never falls short of the avowed objective.
(9) His effort, which is rightly directed in three ways, namely, dauntless determination
as Bodhisatta in being prepared to traverse an ocean of burning coals or of sharp
stakes, laid over the entire surface of the universe which is three million six hundred
and ten thousand, three hundred and fifty yojanas wide, for the sake of attaining
Buddhahood, which is the exalted quality of
payatta
itself; the exclusive Buddha-
Knowledge consisting in the fourfold right efforts and the will to accomplish the five
routine tasks set for Himself every day, never shows the slightest decline.
(10) His concentration in two aspects, namely, the inherent firmness of mind that
withstands the eight kinds of worldly conditions or vicissitudes that may befall Him
from any quarters, like Mount Meru that withstands stormy winds that blow from the
eight directions, the
jhÈnic
power (
appanÈ
samÈdhi
) which is the very basis of all
psychic powers (
abhiÒÒÈs
), such as
iddlividha, dibba cakkhu. cetopariya,
pubbenivÈsÈnussati, yathÈkamm|paga, anÈgatamsa,
never shows the slightest decline.
(11) His Wisdom that encompasses all happenings, i.e. rise and fall of conditional
phenomena, taking place in the three worlds extending over ten thousand world-
systems, on which He surveys through the
MahÈvajÊra-ÒÈÓa
, consisting of 2.4 million
crores of times each day, never shows the slightest decline.
(12) His release (from the trammels of the world) consisting of five kinds, namely, the
four noble Abiding in universal goodwill, Compassion, Sympathetic joy and
Equanimity with regard to ten thousand world-systems extending over the worlds of
deva, human beings, BrahmÈs and the four miserable states; and the dwelling in the
arahatta-phala
fourth
jhÈna
which the Buddha is wont to resort to even in odd
moments such as during recesses in delivering discourses, which consists of 2.4
million crores times each day, never shows the slightest decline.
(13) The Perfectly Self-Enlightened One, endowed with the six exalted qualities, also
counted in eight ways, well possessed of these twelve exclusive attributes, never
indulges in light hearted deed, speech or thought.
(14) He never indulges in any hasty action that is liable to be censured by the wise as
thoughtless or ill-considered conduct.
(15) He never commits any action that is liable to be called inadequate or
uncomprehensive.
(16) He never commits any action that is liable to be called impulsive by the wise.
(17) He never indulges in the slightest remiss concerning His self-assigned task of
bringing benefit to Himself and to the world at large.
(18) He never lets any moment pass without being mindful of the six sense objects that
come within cognisance of the six sense- doors.
The Perfect Self-Enlightened One, endowed with the six exalted qualities, also counted in
eight ways, well possessed of these eighteen exclusive attributes, is not liable to be assailed
by anyone either against his life or against the All-Knowing Wisdom.
The above remarks about the eighteen Buddha-attributes, are true indeed. I pay homage to
the Buddha who is possessed of these attributes. May this meritorious verbal action bring