THE GREAT CHRONICLE OF BUDDHAS
464
your Perfections of Forbearance, Truthfulness, Resolution, Loving-Kindness
and Equanimity?
DÈsa ParamÊ tayÈ dhÊra
kÊdisÊ lokanÈyaka
kathaÑ upaparamÊ punnÈ
parmatthaparamÊ kathaÑ
Veneration to the Exalted Omniscient One, Lord of the three worlds. May
you enlighten us as to how you had fulfilled these Perfections, how you had
acquired higher and higher stages of these Perfections and attained full
maturity thereof? Likewise, with the ten higher Perfections (
upa-pÈramÊ
) and
the ten highest Perfections (
paramattha-pÈramÊ
) in what way, in what manner
had you cultivated them to acquire their maturity at the higher level of
development?
N.B. (With regard to Perfection of Alms-giving (
dÈna-pÈramÊ
), gift of external
properties is ordinary
dÈna-pÈramÊ,
gift of one's own limbs, big and small is
dÈna
-
upa-pÈramÊ,
gift of life is
dÈna
-
paramattha-pÈramÊ
. The same principle of
classification applies to nine other Perfections. Thus, observance of morality at the
sacrifice of external properties is ordinary
sÊla-pÈramÊ
, observance of morality
regardless of loss of one's limbs is
sÊla-upa-pÈramÊ
and observance of morality
regardless of losing one's own life is
sÊla
-
paramattha-pÈramÊ
. This is how they
should be differentiated and noted.)
For innumerable existences, the Bodhisatta had fulfilled
dÈna
and other
pÈramÊs
, of
which the following are of special interest:
(1) When He was born as a wise hare, he mistook Sakka, who was in the guise of a
brahmin, as a genuine brahmin going round collecting alms. So he caused a blazing
bonfire to be made and offered himself by jumping into it. Such
dÈna
is
DÈna-
paramattha-pÈramÊ
. (As told in
7-Sasa Pandita JÈtaka, 2-Pucimanda Vagga of Catukka
Nipata.)
(2) When He was born as Naga-king Sankhapala, he endured the agony of wounds, which
were caused by a ruthless attack by sixteen hunters with spears at eight places on his
body, after being impaled on a stake. Without showing resentment, he offered his life
and maintained the observance of his precepts. Such a
sÊla
comes under the category of
SÊla
-
paramattha-pÈramÊ
. (As told in Sankhapala JÈtaka of Catalisa Nipata.)
(3) When He was King Cula Sutasoma, he abdicated the throne of the country of
Sudassana (ancient BÈrÈÓasÊ) without fear of danger to his life and without attachment
to the luxury of kingship and abnegated himself. Such an act of renunciation is called
Nekkhama
-
paramattha-pÈramÊ
. (Culasoma JÈtaka, Cattalisa Nipata.)
(4) When He was born as a wise man by the name of Senaka, he saved the life of a
brahmin by revealing, as if he had seen with his eyes, the presence of a cobra in the
leather bag which contained the brahmin's food. Such an exhibition of wisdom, which
had saved the life of the owner of the leather bag, comes under the category of
Paramattha-paÒÒÈ-pÈramÊ
. (Sattubhasthe JÈtaka of Sattaka Nipata.)
(5) When He was born as a Prince, named Janaka, his undaunted effort to swim across the
ocean in the face of odds and without despair, while his fellow travellers were
perishing and meeting with destruction, reflects Prince Janaka's great perseverance.
Such a remarkable persevering effort belongs to the category of
Paramattha-vÊriya-
pÈramÊ
(The MahÈ Janaka JÈtaka of MahÈ Nipata.)
(6) When He was a hermit, named KhantivÈdÊ, King Kalabu of the country of Kasi, cut off
his hands and feet with a sharp axe. He was unmoved and bore the suffering as though
he were a piece of log that lacked sensation and consciousness. He also showed no
resentment to the King. Such an act of forbearance comes under the category of
Paramattha-khantÊ-pÈramÊ
. (3-Khantivadi JÈtaka, 2-Pucimanda Vagga of Catukka
Nipata.)