THE GREAT CHRONICLE OF BUDDHAS
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subsided yet. Therefore, through the
pÈramÊs,
such as
dÈna
, etc., which form the
means of allaying them, the Bodhisatta puts away the ‚fever of defilements‛
temporarily or to a distance. By such practices only, the Bodhisatta builds for himself
a temporary supporting foundation to stand on. It is only when he attains Buddhahood
that he is firmly established on the supporting foundation through complete removal
of the ‚fever of defilements‛ and of the suffering in the cycle of rebirths. Hence,
calming of the ‚fever of defilements‛, and of the suffering in the cycle of rebirths
constitute
UpasamÈdhiÔÔhÈna
. )
(iv) Foundation of Wisdom (
PaÒÒÈdhiÔÔhÈna
) means: the
arahatta-phala
Insight,
Omniscience and all kinds of wisdom, such as
upÈya-kosalla ÒÈÓa
, etc., which have
arisen earlier in the mental continuum of the Bodhisatta. (In his existences as a
Bodhisatta, he remains with the earlier forms of wisdom such as
upÈya-kosalla ÒÈÓa
.
etc. It is only when he attains Buddhahood that he is firmly established on the
supporting foundation of
arahatta-phala
Insight and Omniscience. Hence all the
various kinds of aforesaid wisdom constitute
PaÒÒÈdhiÔÔhÈna
).
For the ignorant common worldlings, who have only sense objects and sense desires to
rely on, these sense objects and sense desires constitute their foundation. As for the
Bodhisatta who clearly sees danger in them, he establishes himself on the four supporting
foundations of
sacca
,
cÈga
,
upasama
and
paÒÒÈ,
which lead from these sense objects and
sense desires to freedom, which is NibbÈna. Therefore, these four factors constitute the
supporting foundations for the Bodhisatta.
How Fulfilment of The Four AdhiÔÔhÈnas takes place in The Mental Continuum of The
Bodhisatta
After receiving the definite prophecy of attaining Buddhahood, the Bodhisatta
investigates the
pÈramÊs
by means of Perfection-investigating Wisdom (
PÈramÊ
-
pavicaya
ÒÈÓa
). Having done so, he makes a vow to fulfil all
pÈramÊs,
then he proceeds to fulfil
them all in keeping with this vow. Thus
SaccÈdhiÔÔhÈna
becomes manifest in the mental
continuum of the Bodhisatta.
While
pÈramÊs
are being fulfilled, there occur abandonment of defilements, which oppose
them, and there also occur abandonment of sense objects and sense desires. Thus,
CÈgÈdhiÔÔhÈna
also becomes manifest.
As there is extinction of defilements by virtue of
pÈramÊs
,
UpasamÈdhiÔÔhÈna
also
becomes manifest.
Through these same
pÈramÊs
, the Bodhisatta becomes endowed with
upÈya-kosalla
ÒÈÓa
and
PaÒÒÈdhiÔÔhÈna
also becomes manifest.
(What is meant here is: whenever he fulfils the Ten
PÈramÊs
or the Six
PÈramÊs
, or whenever he performs a meritorious deed related to
pÈramÊs
,
there become manifest in the mental continuum of the Bodhisatta: (i)
SaccÈdhiÔÔhÈna,
which is the endeavour without fail, to implement the vow
he has made; (ii)
CÈgÈdhiÔÔhÈna,
which is the abandonment of defilements,
which oppose
pÈramÊs
; (iii)
UpasamÈdhiÔÔhÈna,
which is the extinction of the
defilements; and (iv)
PaÒÒÈdhiÔÔhÈna,
which is the skill in ways and means
for promotion of welfare of beings. Therefore the six
pÈramÊs
can again be
condensed into the four
adhiÔÔhÈnas
of
sacca
,
cÈga
,
upasama
and
paÒÒÈ
.)
When a person, engaged in a blameless business venture, finding it profitable as intended,
he keeps pursuing that venture with increasing industry and vigour. Here the profit
accruing from the initial business venture is the cause; increasing industry and vigour in the
pursuance of it is the effect of that cause.
In a similar manner, when the Bodhisatta undertakes to perform blameless meritorious
deeds of
pÈramÊ
, he comes to enjoy the benefit of these meritorious deeds in the form of
the four
adhiÔÔhÈnas
, namely, the sweet taste of
VacÊ-sacca
(‚
Saccam have sÈd|taram
rasÈnam‛, Yakkha Samyutta
); the abandonment of defilement (
cÈga
); extinction of the
‚fever of defilements‛ (
upasama
), and
upÈya-kosalla
ÒÈÓa
. He keeps on performing these