56) and not by others: for others are not capable of radically cutting off their own
defilements
(they are in fact subject to falling) and so they cannot arrest the defilements of others.
AbhidharmakosabhasyamVol-4VasubandhuPoussinPruden1991
Why?
Because its power does not know any obstacle.
The knowledge which knows all the objects of knowledge without any obstacle is called a power. This is why the ten powers exist only in the Buddha, because the Buddha, having expelled all the cankers and all the traces (vdsand, see vii. 32d) of ignorance, knows all objects of his own accord. It is not the same for the knowledges of others, and as a consequence these knowledges are not called powers.
According to tradition, Sariputra refused a person who asked
173
for admission to the Order; he was not capable of seeing the
number of the previous and subsequent births of a pigeon chased
174
i
The Buddha's knowledge is exercised without obstacle, the
power of his mind is infinite and envelopes all objects (see p. 1146). ***
If such is the power of his mind, what is the power of his body?
31a. Narayana power in his body; [according to others, in his parts; this is a power the seventh term of a series which
by a hawk (? ).
The Knowledges 1139
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begins with the elephant and in which each term is worth
175 ten times the preceeding; it consists of a tangible. ]
Narayana is the name of a power and also the name of one who possesses this power, namely the god Narayana: the same for Canura and Mahanagna. The power of the body of the Buddha is equal to that of Narayana.
31b. According to others, in his parts;
According to others, each part of his body (samdhi) possesses this power.
The Bhadanta, [the Darstantika Master], says that his physical power is like his mental power, that is, infinite; for, if it were otherwise, the body of the Blessed One would not be able to
176 support infinite knowledge.
The Buddhas have nagdgranthi power in their body parts, Pratyekabuddhas have samkald power, and Cakravartins have
177 sanku power.
What is the extent of Narayana power?
31c. This is a power the seventh term of a series which begins with the elephant and in which each term is worth ten times the preceeding;
178 There is a series: prdkrtahastin, gandhahastin, mahanagna,
179
praskandin, vardriga, cdnura, and narayana. The power of each
term is worth ten times the power of the preceeding term: ten
180
According to others, this is the case for the first six terms; but ten cdnuras are equal to a hali-ndrdyana, and two half-ndrdyanas are equal to one narayana.
prdkrtahastins make one gandhahastin and so on.
? According to the author of this book, among the definitions of
the physical power of the Buddha, that one is true which makes
181 this power the greatest.
31d. It consists of a tangible.
The physical power of the Buddha is, by its nature, a tangible (sprastavyayatana). It consists of primary elements of a special nature.
According to others, however, it is a rupa derived from the primary eletoents, but a derived rupa different from the seven
182 derived tangibles, slaksnatva, etc. (i. 10d).
1Sb As for the four assurances (vaisdradya),
32a-c. Assurance is fourfold
The Buddha possesses four assurances which are explained in the Sutra.
32c. Resembling the first, the tenth, the second, and the seventh power.
1. The first assurance, the assurance that he has attained supreme comprehension with respect to all the dharmas, resem- bles the first power (the power of the knowledge of what is possible and what is impossible); it consists of ten knowledges, and can exist (lit. "be supported") in all of the spheres.
2. The second assurance, the assurance that he has the knowledge of the destruction of all the defilements, resembles the tenth power, the power of the knowledge of the destruction of the defilements: it consists of ten knowledges, and can exist in six spheres.
The Knowledges 1141
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3. The third assurance, the assurance that he can fully explain the dharmas, resembles the second power, the power of the
184 knowledges, and can exist in all of the spheres.
knowledge of the retribution of actions:
it consists of eight
4. The fourth assurance, the assurance that he can explain the Path leading to definitive deliverance, resembles the seventh power, the power of the knowledge of the paths which lead to the different realms of rebirth and to Nirvana: it consists of ten or nine knowledges, and can exist in all of the spheres.
How can the knowledges be called assurances (vaifdradya)?
The word vaisaradya signifies "absence of fear" {nirbhayatd). By reason of the fact that he knows that he has understood all the dharmaSy destroyed all the defilements, etc. , the Buddha is free from fear in the assemblies. Thus vaisaradya is knowledge.
[In our opinion] the assurances, being a result of knowledge,
185 are not knowledge by nature.
***
What are the three applications of mindfulness of the Buddha?
lS6 32d. Three are mindfulness and awareness {prajnd).
187
The Sutra
mindfulness of the Buddha: 1. When his disciples, unanimous, respectfully listen, accept and practice his teaching, he experiences neither joy nor satisfaction, but he remains indifferent, in full mindfulness and awareness. 2. When his disciples, unanimous, do not hear, do not accept and do not practice his teaching, he does not experience displeasure nor impatience, but he remains indifferent, in full mindfulness and awareness. 3. When some of his disciples hear, accept and practice his teaching, while others, not hearing, do not accept and do not practice his teaching, he does
explains at length the three applications of
? not experience joy and displeasure, but remains indifferent in full mindfulness and awareness. These three applications of mindful- ness are, by their nature, mindfulness and awareness.
But a Sravaka who is free from the cankers, whose disciples are either respectful or not respectful, or respectful and not respectful, experiences neither joy nor displeasure, nor either joy or displeasure. Why consider the three applications of mindfulness as dhannas unique to a Buddha?
Because the Buddha has abandoned joy and displeasure along with their traces. Or rather because the disciples are the disciples of the Buddha: it is admirable that the Buddha does not experience either joy or displeasure from their respect or disrespect; but the disciples are not the disciples of the Sravakas from whom they receive the teaching: there is nothing admirable in the fact that these Sravakas do not experience joy or displeasure.
***
33a. Great compassion is a conventional mental state; [it is
great through its factors, its aspects, its object, its equality,
and its excellence; it differs from (ordinary) compassion in
188 eight ways. ]
Great compassion is, by its nature, conventional knowledge (vii. 2b). In the contrary case, it would be, in its nature, absence of hatred as is ordinary compassion (viii. 29); like ordinary compas- sion, it would not embrace all beings of the Three Dhatus, it would not envision the three types of suffering.
Why is the compassion of the Blessed One termed "great"?
33b. It is great through its factors, its aspects, its object, its equality, and its excellence.
? 1. By reason of its factors (sambhara); it is produced in fact by a great provisioning (sambhara) of merit (punya) and knowledge (jfldna)TM
2. By reason of its aspects, of the modality under which it grasps things: it considers things as painful by reason of the threefold suffering, the suffering inherent in suffering itself, the suffering inherent in change, and the suffering inherent in the samskaras (vi. 3),190 whereas ordinary compassion only envisions the suffering inherent in suffering itself.
? . ? ? reason of the object, for it has for its object all beings in the Three Dhatus.
4. By reason of its equality, for it is equally concerned with the happiness and benefit of all being.
5. By reason of its excellence, for no other compassion which has arisen surpasses it. 191
How does great compassion differ from ordinary compassion?
33c. It differs from ordinary compassion in eight ways.
1. With respect to its nature: ordinary compassion is absence of hatred, whereas great compassion is absence of ignorance.
2. With respect to its aspect: ordinary compassion takes on the form of one suffering, whereas great compassion takes on the form of threefold suffering.
3. With respect to its object: ordinary compassion is concerned with the beings of one Dhatu, whereas great compassion is concerned with the Three Dhatus.
4. With respect to its sphere: ordinary compassion is of the sphere of the Four Dhyanas,192 whereas great compassion is of the sphere of the Fourth Dhyana.
5. With respect to the personality which serves as its support: ordinary compassion arises in the series of the Sravakas, etc. ,193
? The Knowledges 1145 whereas great compassion arises in the series of the Buddhas.
6. With respect to its acquisition: ordinary compassion is obtained through detachment from Kamadhatu, whereas great compassion is obtained through detachment from Bhavagra.
7. With respect to its protection: ordinary compassion does not
194
8. With respect to compassion: ordinary compassion is an unequal compassion, for it sympathizes only with beings who are suffering, whereas great compassion is an equal compassion, turned towards all beings equally.
***
We have explained the qualities which belong only to the Buddhas and which distinguish them from other beings. Do the Buddhas resemble one another among themselves?
Under certain conditions, yes; under other conditions, no.
34. In sambhara, dharmakdya and their service to beings, the Buddhas are identical; not in their duration of life, their
195 caste, their stature, etc.
The Buddhas are identical in that they have, in their previous existences, equally accumulated merit and knowledge, in that they
196
have realized the same dharmakdya; ' and in that they equally
carry out service to others.
But the Buddhas differ through the difference in the duration of their lives, their caste, their gotra, the dimensions of their bodies, etc. According to the period in which they appear, their life is long or short, they are Ksatriyas or Brahmins, they belong to the Gautamagotra or to the Kasyapagotra, and their bodies are great or small. The word et cetera indicates that the Dharma of the
protect, whereas great compassion protects.
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Buddhas lasts a long or short period of time, accordingly as, at the moment of their appearance, the beings to be converted are straight or crooked. 197
***
All intelligent persons who reflect on the threefold perfecti- on198 of the Tathagatas necessarily produce a profound affection, a profound respect with respect to them. This threefold perfection is the perfection of their causes which consists of the provisions of merit and knowledge; the perfection of the result which consists of the dharmakdya; and the perfection of benefit which consists of service to all beings.
i. The perfection of cause is fourfold: 1. Cultivation of the accumulation of all qualities and all knowledge;199 2. prolonged cultivation;200 3. uninterrupted cultivation; and 4. zealous cultivation.
ii. The perfection of the result is fourfold, for the realization of the dharmakaya includes four perfections, that of knowledge, of abandoning, of power and of material body.
a. The perfection of knowledge is fourfold: 1. untaught knowledge; 2. universal knowledge (that is to say knowledge of all individual characteristics); 3. omniform knowledge,201 (that is to say knowledge of all manners of being); and 4. spontaneous knowledge (knowledge through the simple desire to know).
b. The perfection of abandoning is fourfold: 1. abandoning of all the defilements; 2. definitive abandoning (not susceptible of falling away); 3. abandoning of the defilements with their traces (because no bond remains); and 4. abandoning of the obstacles to samddhi and samdpatti [of such a sort that the Buddha is doubly delivered (vi. 64a)]. 202
? The perfection of power is fourfold: 1. perfection in the mastery of creating, transforming, and maintaining an external
? ^
The Knowledges 1147
object;
203
2. perfection in the mastery of abandoning and
prolonging life;
204
3. perfection in the mastery of movement
through resistant bodies, through space, to very distant location, of
great speed, and mastery in the reduction of a large body to a small
205
volume; and 4. perfection of marvellous qualities, multiple and
206 natural.
d. The perfection of the material body is fourfold: 1. perfection in marks (laksana); 2. perfection in secondary marks (anuvyan- jana)\ 3. perfection in power (that is to say possession of Narayana's power, vii. 31); and (with respect to internal events) perfection of the body whose bones are like diamonds; and (with respect to external events) emissions of rays of light (which exceed
one hundred thousand suns. )
iii. The perfection of service is fourfold: 1-3. to deliver definitively {atyanta) from the suffering of the three painful realms of rebirth; 4. to deliver from the suffering of transmigra- tion; or rather: 1-3. to install into the three vehicles; 4. to install into good realms of rebirth.
Such are, in short, the perfections of the Buddhas. There would be no end of our discussion if we were to speak of them in great detail. Only the Buddhas, the Blessed Ones, if they were to prolong their existence for numbers of asamkhyeyakalpas, would be capable of knowing and speaking of their grandeur. It is enough to know that the Buddhas, endowed with qualities, knowledges, powers, and infinite and extraordinary benefits, are like mines of jewels.
Nevertheless fools {bala = prthagjana), themselves poor in qualities--and judging based upon themselves--have no spiritual aspirations: they understand in vain the extolling of the merits of the Buddha and they do not conceive affection either for the Buddha or his Dharma.
The wise, on the contrary, understand the explanation of the qualities of the Buddha, conceiving, with respect to the Buddha and his Dharma, a mind of faith which penetrates to the marrow of
? 1148 Chapter Seven
their bones. These persons, through this single mind of faith, surmount an infinite mass of actions of unnecessary retribution; they obtain excellent human and divine rebirths; and, finally, they arrive at Nirvana. This is why the Tathagatas are said to be a supreme field of merit; for this field gives forth fruits which are certain, agreeable, abundant, rapid, (experienced in this life), and of excellent issue. The Blessed One, in fact, has proclaimed, "If anyone plants a small root of good in the field of merit which are the Buddhas, he will first possess heavenly realms of rebirth and
209
then he will obtain the Deathless (Ekottara, 24. 15). We have
explained the eighteen qualities unique to the Buddhas.
35a. There are other qualities which the Buddhas have in common with Saiksas
The Buddhas possess innumerable qualities which they have in common either with Sravakas
35b. And Prthagjanas
Or with ordinary persons.
35c. Absence of Contention, Knowledge Resulting from Resolution, the Unhindered Knowledges, the Supernormal Knowledges, etc.
These are: the Samadhi Absence of Contention, the Knowledge Resulting from Resolution, the Four Unhindered Knowledges, the Supernormal Knowledges, the Dhyanas, the Arupyas, the Eight Samapattis, the Three Samadhis, the Four Apramanas, the Eight Vimoksas, the Eight Abhibhvayatanas, the Ten Krtsnayatanas, etc.
207 208
? The first three are common to both the Buddhas and the Aryans; the Supernormal Knowledges, the Dhyanas, etc. , can also belong to ordinary persons.
***
Arand [is the power to hinder the arising of another's
210
defilements].
produced through their defilements; they know that they them- selves are the most worthy field of merit (iv. 103, 117a); they fear that others might generate defilements with respect to them
211
The Arhats know that the sufferings of beings are
[which would be particularly injurious to them];
generate a knowledge of such a nature that no other person will produce, with respect to them, lust, hatred, pride, etc. This knowledge puts an end, in beings, to rana9 or contention, which is a defilement, a cause of torment: it is thus called arand or absence of contention.
What are the characteristics of the so-called Arana Samadhi, the Absorption Absence of Contention?
36a. Absence of Contention is conventional knowledge;
By nature it is conventional knowledge, as it results from its object.
36b. It is of the sphere of the Fourth Dhyana;
It exists in ("has for its support") the Fourth Dhyana, which is the best of the easy paths (vi. 66).
36c. It is produced by a person who is Immovable.
thus they
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It is produced by Immovable Arhats {akopyadharman, vi.
56) and not by others: for others are not capable of radically cutting off their own defilements (they are in fact subject to falling) and so they cannot arrest the defilements of others.
36d. It is produced by humans.
It is produced by humans, for it is only a being in the human realm of rebirth who can cultivate it in the Three Dvipas.
36e. It relates to the defilements of Kamadhatu, is future, and has a real object.
It bears on the defilements of others, in Kamadhatu, in the future, and "has a real object" {savastuka), "May no defilements arise in others with respect to me! " The savastuka defilements are craving, anger, etc. , which are abandoned through Meditation (vi. 58).
The avastuka defilements of others (vi. 58), which are
abandoned through Seeing, are not susceptible of being arrested,
for the universal {sarvatraga) defilements (v. 12), which exist in 212
the totality of their sphere, also exist in the series of another.
As is the Samadhi Absence of Contention,
37a-b. So too the Knowledge Resulting from Resolution; 213
[but it has all for its object].
Like the Samadhi Absence of Contention, the Knowledge Resulting from Resolution is, by nature, conventional knowledge; like Absence of Contention, it exists in the Fourth Dhyana, it is produced in the series of an Immovable One, and it is meditated upon by a being in the human realm of rebirth.
? 37b. But it has all for its object.
But, unlike the Samadhi Absence of Contention, it bears on all the dharmas.
214
Yet
are not known by a direct seeing through the Knowledge Resulting from Resolution--being of the Fourth Dhyana, this knowledge does not bear on a higher sphere. These dharmas are known through inference (anumdna). In fact, one knows 1. the outflowing of Arupyadhatu, namely the extreme calm which follows, in a subsequent existence, from a former existence in Arupyadhatu; 2. the conduct of Arupyadhatu, that is to say the practice of the Arupya Samapattis which will produce an existence in Arupyadha- tu,--and one can infer from a cause to its result and from a result to its cause. As the farmer knows a seed from its fruit and a fruit from its seed, seeing a calm person, one concludes, "He is reborn falling from Arupyadhatu, but he will be reborn in Arupyadhatu. " Such is the opinion of the Vaibhasikas.
Others believe however that the Knowledge Resulting from
Resolution bears on Arupyadhatu, for there is nothing that is not
215 within the mental range of the Buddhas.
One who would produce the Knowledge Resulting from Resolution begins by forming a resolution, holding a certain object in his consciousness; he enters into the Fourth prantakotika Dhyana (viii. 41a): this is the preparatory exercise. As soon as he leaves this absorption, he produces an exact consciousness in
the Vaibhasikas say that the dharmas of Arupyadhatu
conformity with his resolution the sphere of which varies 216
according to the power of his absorption.
***
37c-d. So too the Unhindered Knowledges of dharmas, of 217
objects, of etymological explanations, and of eloquence.
There are Four Unhindered Knowledges: the Unhindered
? Knowledge of dharmas, the Unhindered Knowledge of things {artha), the Unhindered Knowledge of etymological explanations (nirukta), and the Unhindered Knowledge of eloquence (prati- bhana). They are like the Samadhi Absence of Contention in that they belong solely to the Immovable Ones who are humans. But they differ from it with respect to their object, the sphere in which they are acquired, and their nature.
38a-b. The first three are unhindered knowledges bearing,
218 in this order, on name, the thing, speech.
Infallible {avivartya) knowledge of names, phrases, and 219
syllables (ii. 47a) is the Unhindered Knowledge of dharmas. Infallible knowledge of the thing is the Unhindered Knowl-
edge of things.
Infallible knowledge of speech is the Unhindered Knowledge of etymological explanation.
38c-d. The fourth is the knowledge of exact and facile
220
Infallible knowledge which confers the capacity to express
221
oneself in an exact and facile manner and which also confers
never failing attention on a person who is a master in absorption is
222 the Unhindered Knowledge of eloquence.
39a-b. Its object is speech and the Path; [it is made up of
223
Speech and the Path are the object of this Unhindered Knowledge.
expression, and of mastery with respect to the Path.
nine knowledges. ]
? 39b. It is made up of nine knowledges.
Which, in its nature, is made up of nine knowledges with the exception of the knowledge of extinction.
39c. It is of all the spheres.
It can arise in an ascetic who exists in any of the spheres, from Kamadhatu to Bhavagra, since it has for its object either speech or the Path.
39c. Unhindered Knowledge of things (artha) is made up of ten or six.
Artha or thing signifies "all the dharmas": in which case the Unhindered Knowledge of things is, by its nature, the ten knowledges; but if artha signifies Nirvana, then it is made up of six knowledges: the knowledge of dharmas, inferential knowledge, the knowledge of extinction, the Knowledge of Destruction, the Knowledge of Non-Arising and conventional knowledge.
39d. It arises everywhere.
That is to say it can exist in any sphere.
39d. The others are conventional knowledge.
Two Unhindered Knowledges (of the dharmas and of etymo- logical explanation) are conventional knowledge, for they have names, phrases, and syllables, etc. , and speech, for their object.
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40a. The Unhindered Knowledge of dharmas exists in Kamadhatu and the Dhyanas.
It therefore exists in five spheres. Above them, names are
224 absent [and so too phrases and syllables].
40b. The Unhindered Knowledge of speech exists in Kamadhatu and the First Dhyana.
The Unhindered Knowledge of etymological explanation
exists only in Kamadhatu and the First Dhyana, because vitarka is 225
***
According to the Prajnaptipada, the Unhindered Knowledges
are in the following order: 1. the infallible knowledge of name,
phrase, and syllable; 2. the knowledge of the thing (artha)
expressed by its name, etc. ; 3. the knowledge of the expression of
the characteristics of the thing, its number (singular, dual, or
absent above them.
plural), its gender (feminine, masculine, or neuter), the time, 226
etc. ; 4. the knowledge of what is not possible {asaktata) [=which produced the asaktata] either of the expression, or of phrases and syllables. In this way the order of the Unhindered Knowledges is justified.
According to others, nirukti is an etymological explanation
{nirvacanam), for example: rUpyate tasmad rupam (it is physical
matter because it can be crushed), vijanatiti vijrlanam^ (it is
consciousness because it knows or distinguishes), cinotiti cittam (it 227
is mind because it accumulates); pratibhana is the rejoinder.
According to the School, the preparatory exercises of the Four Unhindered Knowledges are, in this order, the study of calculation,
? the word of the Buddha, the study of sounds (sabdavidyd), and the 228
study of causes (hetuvidyd), for a person who has not cultivated these four disciplines is not capable of producing the Four
229
Unhindered Knowledges. But, in fact, the study of the word of
the Buddha alone suffices to achieve the four preparatory exercises.
40c. One only obtains them together.
If a person obtains one Unhindered Knowledge, he obtains the others; if he does not obtain them all, he does not obtain any of them.
***
The six qualities described above, Absence of Contention, etc.
40d. These six are prantakotika.
They receive this name because they are obtained through the power of the Prantakotika Dhyana (vii. 4la-c).
41a. It is sixfold.
The Fourth Prantakotika Dhyana is made up of six things: it consists of 1. Absence of Contention, 2. the Knowledge Resulting from Resolution, 3-5. three Unhindered Knowledges (with the exception of the Unhindered Knowledge of etymological explana-
230 tion), and 6. the Prantakotika Dhyana itself.
Even though the Unhindered Knowledge of etymological explanation may be obtained through the power of a Prantakotika Dhyana, it does not arise in the Fourth Dhyana, for it has Kamadhatu and the First Dhyana for its sphere; consequently it is not included within the Fourth Prantakotika Dhyana.
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Chapter Seven
What is the Prantakotika Dhyana?
It is the last dhyana in the Fourth Dhyana.
4lb-c. It is the last dhyana, in a series with all the spheres
232
a. The Fourth Dhyana is "in a series with all the spheres" when one cultivates it in the following manner: from a good mind of Kamadhatu, one enters into the First Dhyana; from the First Dhyana, into the Second, and so on up to naivasamjnandsarhjnaya- tana (= the Fourth Dhyana); then, one redescends to a good mind of Kamadhatu; finally, from this mind, one ascends again to the Fourth Dhyana.
b. One cultivates the Fourth Dhyana; after having cultivated in
an inferior manner, one cultivates in a medium manner; after
having cultivated in a medium manner, one cultivates in a superior
manner. Each one of these three categories is divided into three.
The Fourth Dhyana is therefore made up of nine categories. The
highest category of the Fourth Dhyana is called "carried to the
maximum" (vrddhikdspdgata). The Dhyana which possesses these
and carried to its maximum.
two qualities is called prantakotika, because its end (koti) has been 2bb
traversed (pragatd) to the extreme (antam).
Koti signifies both "type" (prakdra) and "summit, apex," as
one says: cdtuskopika prasna, that is, a fourfold question; or as one
234
4Id. With the exception of the Buddha, acquired through effort.
With the exception of the Buddha, the other Aryans acquire these six qualities, the Samadhi Absence of Contention, etc. , only through effort, and not through detachment, since all do not
says: bhutakopi, "the limit of existence. " These qualities of the Buddha are
231
? 235
possess them.
detachment, for the Buddha obtains all his qualities in a single stroke, from the beginning, at the moment of the Knowledge of
The Buddha alone acquires them through
236
his will, without effort; for the Buddha is the master of all the
Destruction, through detachment. dharmas that he possesses.
Later, he actualizes them at
***
We have explained the three categories, Absence of Conten-
tion, Knowledge Resulting from Resolution, the Unhindered
Knowledges, which are common to the Aryans. Among the
2bl qualities which also belong to ordinary persons {prthagjanas)
we must explain the Supernormal Knowledges.
42a-d. Realization of the knowledge of supernormal power, of ear, of the mind, of past existences, of death and rebirth, of the destruction of the cankers; this is the sixfold
238
There are six supernormal knowledges: 1. the supernormal
knowledge which consists of the realization of the knowledge of
the sphere of rddhi or supernormal power (that is to say,
supernormal knowledge.
239
which consists of the realization of the knowledge of divine
displacement and creation);
2. the supernormal knowledge
240
realization of the knowledge or consciousness of the mind of
hearing;
3. the supernormal knowledge which consists of the
another;
241
4.
242
the supernormal knowledge which consists of the 243
realization of the knowledge of the memory of past existences;
5. the supernormal knowledge which consists of the realization of
the knowledge of divine sight (of the death and birth of all
245
cankers.
Even though the sixth supernormal knowledge belongs only to
244
the realization of the knowledge of the destruction of the
beings);
and 6. the supernormal knowledge which consists of
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the Aryans, since the first five are also possessed by ordinary persons, and by reason of the characteristics of the greatest number of supernormal knowledges, here all of the supernormal knowledges are considered as common to the Aryans and to
246 ordinary persons.
247 42d. They are prajnd of deliverance.
They are by their nature the prajnd of the Path of Deliverance, 248
like the results of the religious life.
249 43a. Four are conventional knowledge.
Four, with the exception of the supernormal knowledge of the minds of others and the supernormal knowledge of the destruction of the cankers, are conventional knowledges (vii. 2).
43b. The knowledge of the mind of another is made up of five knowledges.
The fifth supernormal knowledge is by nature the knowledge
of dharmas, inferential knowledge, a knowledge of the Path,
conventional knowledge, and the knowledge of the mind of
250 another.
43c. The supernormal knowledge of the destruction of the
251 cankers is similar to the power.
Exactly like the power of the knowledge of the destruction of the cankers, this supernormal knowledge is made up of six or ten knowledges. So too, it can exist in all of the spheres and relates to all objects.
? 43d. Five exist in the Four Dhyanas. 252
The first five supernormal knowledges exist in the Four Dhyanas, that is to say, they are obtained by an ascetic in any of these Dhyanas.
***
Why do they not exist in the non-material absorptions, the Arupyas?
a. The first three have rupa for their object (see p. 1162, line 14). Thus one cannot produce them in the arupyas.
b. The knowledge of the mind of another is prepared through the gate of physical matter (rupa), that is to say through a path which has color and shape for its object. 253 Now the non-material absorptions do not have physical matter for their object.
? As for the memory of previous existences, the ascetic prepares for this by going over again and again the course of successive states {anupurvavasthantarasmaranat)\2bA now the non-material absorptions do not have the dharmas of Kamadhatu for their object, and when a memory of past existences is actualized, it bears, as the Sutra says, on the place, the gotta, etc. , and on material dharmasPb
d. In fact the ascetic who wishes to know the mind of another first considers, in his own series, the characteristics of his body and mind, "Such is my body, such is my mind. " As he has considered his own body and mind, in this same way, envisioning the series of another, he takes into consideration the characteristic of the body and mind of another: thus he knows the mind of another and the supernormal knowledge arises. When the supernormal knowledge is realized, the ascetic no longer considers the rupa of the body; he directly knows the mind. 256
e. The ascetic who wishes to remember his past existences, begins by grasping the characteristic of the mind which has just perished; from this mind, he again considers the states which it immediately succeeds in the present existence up to the mind at
? I: . ? /emembers one moment of mind of his llpantarabhava), this supernormal knowl- ^der for him to remember the previous
? preliminary exercise is the same. #eginner in the practice of this supernor- pse existences onlyintheir chronological
Lee is acquired, heremembers them by ' existences.
|'ly that which has been experienced
low can there be remembrance of the /; do not return here, the ascetic does not Ld he has not experienced them in their j p n s a r e n o t b o r n in this h e a v e n .
? ecause he has experienced them through [^ho remembers themunderstands, "The ? are such. " The experience, in fact, is
/Mid hearing.
H p m Arupyadhatu, arise here produce this f/>>y means of the seriesof another.
i\/ ? which consists of the memory of past ? re of a Dhyana, and one cannot, through [Wind which is in Arupyadhatu.
"yn by means of theirown series. 258
W the first three supernormal knowled- jlJpwledge of the sphereof rddhi, of divine h/jsht,--consists of the observation of |, fft. 259 W h e n this preparation is achieved,
)\\,(<? in each case.
e supernormal knowledges do not exist lypyadhatu260
? 44a. They have their own sphere or a lower sphere for their
261
domain.
Through the Supernormal Knowledge of magical power of a certain sphere, acquired in a certain dhydna (vii. 43d), one possesses the powers of displacement and creation (vii. 48) in this sphere or in a lower sphere, but not in a higher sphere.
So too, through the Supernormal Knowledge of divine hearing, one understands the sounds of the sphere to which the Supernor- mal Knowledge belongs, or the sounds of a lower sphere, but not the sounds of a higher sphere.
Through the Supernormal Knowledge of the mind of another, one does not know the mind of another when it is of a sphere higher than that of the Supernormal Knowledge.
Through the Supernormal Knowledge of the memory of past existences, one does not obtain the memory of existences in a sphere higher than that of the Supernormal Knowledge.
Consequently, a mind in Arupyadhatu cannot be attained either through the Supernormal Knowledge of the knowledge of the mind of another, nor through the Supernormal Knowledge of the memory of past existences, because this mind in Arupyadhatu is of
262
a sphere higher than that of the Supernormal Knowledges.
***
How are the Supernormal Knowledges acquired?
If they have not been acquired in a past life, they are acquired only through effort.
The knowledge which knows all the objects of knowledge without any obstacle is called a power. This is why the ten powers exist only in the Buddha, because the Buddha, having expelled all the cankers and all the traces (vdsand, see vii. 32d) of ignorance, knows all objects of his own accord. It is not the same for the knowledges of others, and as a consequence these knowledges are not called powers.
According to tradition, Sariputra refused a person who asked
173
for admission to the Order; he was not capable of seeing the
number of the previous and subsequent births of a pigeon chased
174
i
The Buddha's knowledge is exercised without obstacle, the
power of his mind is infinite and envelopes all objects (see p. 1146). ***
If such is the power of his mind, what is the power of his body?
31a. Narayana power in his body; [according to others, in his parts; this is a power the seventh term of a series which
by a hawk (? ).
The Knowledges 1139
? 1140 Chapter Seven
begins with the elephant and in which each term is worth
175 ten times the preceeding; it consists of a tangible. ]
Narayana is the name of a power and also the name of one who possesses this power, namely the god Narayana: the same for Canura and Mahanagna. The power of the body of the Buddha is equal to that of Narayana.
31b. According to others, in his parts;
According to others, each part of his body (samdhi) possesses this power.
The Bhadanta, [the Darstantika Master], says that his physical power is like his mental power, that is, infinite; for, if it were otherwise, the body of the Blessed One would not be able to
176 support infinite knowledge.
The Buddhas have nagdgranthi power in their body parts, Pratyekabuddhas have samkald power, and Cakravartins have
177 sanku power.
What is the extent of Narayana power?
31c. This is a power the seventh term of a series which begins with the elephant and in which each term is worth ten times the preceeding;
178 There is a series: prdkrtahastin, gandhahastin, mahanagna,
179
praskandin, vardriga, cdnura, and narayana. The power of each
term is worth ten times the power of the preceeding term: ten
180
According to others, this is the case for the first six terms; but ten cdnuras are equal to a hali-ndrdyana, and two half-ndrdyanas are equal to one narayana.
prdkrtahastins make one gandhahastin and so on.
? According to the author of this book, among the definitions of
the physical power of the Buddha, that one is true which makes
181 this power the greatest.
31d. It consists of a tangible.
The physical power of the Buddha is, by its nature, a tangible (sprastavyayatana). It consists of primary elements of a special nature.
According to others, however, it is a rupa derived from the primary eletoents, but a derived rupa different from the seven
182 derived tangibles, slaksnatva, etc. (i. 10d).
1Sb As for the four assurances (vaisdradya),
32a-c. Assurance is fourfold
The Buddha possesses four assurances which are explained in the Sutra.
32c. Resembling the first, the tenth, the second, and the seventh power.
1. The first assurance, the assurance that he has attained supreme comprehension with respect to all the dharmas, resem- bles the first power (the power of the knowledge of what is possible and what is impossible); it consists of ten knowledges, and can exist (lit. "be supported") in all of the spheres.
2. The second assurance, the assurance that he has the knowledge of the destruction of all the defilements, resembles the tenth power, the power of the knowledge of the destruction of the defilements: it consists of ten knowledges, and can exist in six spheres.
The Knowledges 1141
? 1142 Chapter Seven
3. The third assurance, the assurance that he can fully explain the dharmas, resembles the second power, the power of the
184 knowledges, and can exist in all of the spheres.
knowledge of the retribution of actions:
it consists of eight
4. The fourth assurance, the assurance that he can explain the Path leading to definitive deliverance, resembles the seventh power, the power of the knowledge of the paths which lead to the different realms of rebirth and to Nirvana: it consists of ten or nine knowledges, and can exist in all of the spheres.
How can the knowledges be called assurances (vaifdradya)?
The word vaisaradya signifies "absence of fear" {nirbhayatd). By reason of the fact that he knows that he has understood all the dharmaSy destroyed all the defilements, etc. , the Buddha is free from fear in the assemblies. Thus vaisaradya is knowledge.
[In our opinion] the assurances, being a result of knowledge,
185 are not knowledge by nature.
***
What are the three applications of mindfulness of the Buddha?
lS6 32d. Three are mindfulness and awareness {prajnd).
187
The Sutra
mindfulness of the Buddha: 1. When his disciples, unanimous, respectfully listen, accept and practice his teaching, he experiences neither joy nor satisfaction, but he remains indifferent, in full mindfulness and awareness. 2. When his disciples, unanimous, do not hear, do not accept and do not practice his teaching, he does not experience displeasure nor impatience, but he remains indifferent, in full mindfulness and awareness. 3. When some of his disciples hear, accept and practice his teaching, while others, not hearing, do not accept and do not practice his teaching, he does
explains at length the three applications of
? not experience joy and displeasure, but remains indifferent in full mindfulness and awareness. These three applications of mindful- ness are, by their nature, mindfulness and awareness.
But a Sravaka who is free from the cankers, whose disciples are either respectful or not respectful, or respectful and not respectful, experiences neither joy nor displeasure, nor either joy or displeasure. Why consider the three applications of mindfulness as dhannas unique to a Buddha?
Because the Buddha has abandoned joy and displeasure along with their traces. Or rather because the disciples are the disciples of the Buddha: it is admirable that the Buddha does not experience either joy or displeasure from their respect or disrespect; but the disciples are not the disciples of the Sravakas from whom they receive the teaching: there is nothing admirable in the fact that these Sravakas do not experience joy or displeasure.
***
33a. Great compassion is a conventional mental state; [it is
great through its factors, its aspects, its object, its equality,
and its excellence; it differs from (ordinary) compassion in
188 eight ways. ]
Great compassion is, by its nature, conventional knowledge (vii. 2b). In the contrary case, it would be, in its nature, absence of hatred as is ordinary compassion (viii. 29); like ordinary compas- sion, it would not embrace all beings of the Three Dhatus, it would not envision the three types of suffering.
Why is the compassion of the Blessed One termed "great"?
33b. It is great through its factors, its aspects, its object, its equality, and its excellence.
? 1. By reason of its factors (sambhara); it is produced in fact by a great provisioning (sambhara) of merit (punya) and knowledge (jfldna)TM
2. By reason of its aspects, of the modality under which it grasps things: it considers things as painful by reason of the threefold suffering, the suffering inherent in suffering itself, the suffering inherent in change, and the suffering inherent in the samskaras (vi. 3),190 whereas ordinary compassion only envisions the suffering inherent in suffering itself.
? . ? ? reason of the object, for it has for its object all beings in the Three Dhatus.
4. By reason of its equality, for it is equally concerned with the happiness and benefit of all being.
5. By reason of its excellence, for no other compassion which has arisen surpasses it. 191
How does great compassion differ from ordinary compassion?
33c. It differs from ordinary compassion in eight ways.
1. With respect to its nature: ordinary compassion is absence of hatred, whereas great compassion is absence of ignorance.
2. With respect to its aspect: ordinary compassion takes on the form of one suffering, whereas great compassion takes on the form of threefold suffering.
3. With respect to its object: ordinary compassion is concerned with the beings of one Dhatu, whereas great compassion is concerned with the Three Dhatus.
4. With respect to its sphere: ordinary compassion is of the sphere of the Four Dhyanas,192 whereas great compassion is of the sphere of the Fourth Dhyana.
5. With respect to the personality which serves as its support: ordinary compassion arises in the series of the Sravakas, etc. ,193
? The Knowledges 1145 whereas great compassion arises in the series of the Buddhas.
6. With respect to its acquisition: ordinary compassion is obtained through detachment from Kamadhatu, whereas great compassion is obtained through detachment from Bhavagra.
7. With respect to its protection: ordinary compassion does not
194
8. With respect to compassion: ordinary compassion is an unequal compassion, for it sympathizes only with beings who are suffering, whereas great compassion is an equal compassion, turned towards all beings equally.
***
We have explained the qualities which belong only to the Buddhas and which distinguish them from other beings. Do the Buddhas resemble one another among themselves?
Under certain conditions, yes; under other conditions, no.
34. In sambhara, dharmakdya and their service to beings, the Buddhas are identical; not in their duration of life, their
195 caste, their stature, etc.
The Buddhas are identical in that they have, in their previous existences, equally accumulated merit and knowledge, in that they
196
have realized the same dharmakdya; ' and in that they equally
carry out service to others.
But the Buddhas differ through the difference in the duration of their lives, their caste, their gotra, the dimensions of their bodies, etc. According to the period in which they appear, their life is long or short, they are Ksatriyas or Brahmins, they belong to the Gautamagotra or to the Kasyapagotra, and their bodies are great or small. The word et cetera indicates that the Dharma of the
protect, whereas great compassion protects.
? 1146 Chapter Seven
Buddhas lasts a long or short period of time, accordingly as, at the moment of their appearance, the beings to be converted are straight or crooked. 197
***
All intelligent persons who reflect on the threefold perfecti- on198 of the Tathagatas necessarily produce a profound affection, a profound respect with respect to them. This threefold perfection is the perfection of their causes which consists of the provisions of merit and knowledge; the perfection of the result which consists of the dharmakdya; and the perfection of benefit which consists of service to all beings.
i. The perfection of cause is fourfold: 1. Cultivation of the accumulation of all qualities and all knowledge;199 2. prolonged cultivation;200 3. uninterrupted cultivation; and 4. zealous cultivation.
ii. The perfection of the result is fourfold, for the realization of the dharmakaya includes four perfections, that of knowledge, of abandoning, of power and of material body.
a. The perfection of knowledge is fourfold: 1. untaught knowledge; 2. universal knowledge (that is to say knowledge of all individual characteristics); 3. omniform knowledge,201 (that is to say knowledge of all manners of being); and 4. spontaneous knowledge (knowledge through the simple desire to know).
b. The perfection of abandoning is fourfold: 1. abandoning of all the defilements; 2. definitive abandoning (not susceptible of falling away); 3. abandoning of the defilements with their traces (because no bond remains); and 4. abandoning of the obstacles to samddhi and samdpatti [of such a sort that the Buddha is doubly delivered (vi. 64a)]. 202
? The perfection of power is fourfold: 1. perfection in the mastery of creating, transforming, and maintaining an external
? ^
The Knowledges 1147
object;
203
2. perfection in the mastery of abandoning and
prolonging life;
204
3. perfection in the mastery of movement
through resistant bodies, through space, to very distant location, of
great speed, and mastery in the reduction of a large body to a small
205
volume; and 4. perfection of marvellous qualities, multiple and
206 natural.
d. The perfection of the material body is fourfold: 1. perfection in marks (laksana); 2. perfection in secondary marks (anuvyan- jana)\ 3. perfection in power (that is to say possession of Narayana's power, vii. 31); and (with respect to internal events) perfection of the body whose bones are like diamonds; and (with respect to external events) emissions of rays of light (which exceed
one hundred thousand suns. )
iii. The perfection of service is fourfold: 1-3. to deliver definitively {atyanta) from the suffering of the three painful realms of rebirth; 4. to deliver from the suffering of transmigra- tion; or rather: 1-3. to install into the three vehicles; 4. to install into good realms of rebirth.
Such are, in short, the perfections of the Buddhas. There would be no end of our discussion if we were to speak of them in great detail. Only the Buddhas, the Blessed Ones, if they were to prolong their existence for numbers of asamkhyeyakalpas, would be capable of knowing and speaking of their grandeur. It is enough to know that the Buddhas, endowed with qualities, knowledges, powers, and infinite and extraordinary benefits, are like mines of jewels.
Nevertheless fools {bala = prthagjana), themselves poor in qualities--and judging based upon themselves--have no spiritual aspirations: they understand in vain the extolling of the merits of the Buddha and they do not conceive affection either for the Buddha or his Dharma.
The wise, on the contrary, understand the explanation of the qualities of the Buddha, conceiving, with respect to the Buddha and his Dharma, a mind of faith which penetrates to the marrow of
? 1148 Chapter Seven
their bones. These persons, through this single mind of faith, surmount an infinite mass of actions of unnecessary retribution; they obtain excellent human and divine rebirths; and, finally, they arrive at Nirvana. This is why the Tathagatas are said to be a supreme field of merit; for this field gives forth fruits which are certain, agreeable, abundant, rapid, (experienced in this life), and of excellent issue. The Blessed One, in fact, has proclaimed, "If anyone plants a small root of good in the field of merit which are the Buddhas, he will first possess heavenly realms of rebirth and
209
then he will obtain the Deathless (Ekottara, 24. 15). We have
explained the eighteen qualities unique to the Buddhas.
35a. There are other qualities which the Buddhas have in common with Saiksas
The Buddhas possess innumerable qualities which they have in common either with Sravakas
35b. And Prthagjanas
Or with ordinary persons.
35c. Absence of Contention, Knowledge Resulting from Resolution, the Unhindered Knowledges, the Supernormal Knowledges, etc.
These are: the Samadhi Absence of Contention, the Knowledge Resulting from Resolution, the Four Unhindered Knowledges, the Supernormal Knowledges, the Dhyanas, the Arupyas, the Eight Samapattis, the Three Samadhis, the Four Apramanas, the Eight Vimoksas, the Eight Abhibhvayatanas, the Ten Krtsnayatanas, etc.
207 208
? The first three are common to both the Buddhas and the Aryans; the Supernormal Knowledges, the Dhyanas, etc. , can also belong to ordinary persons.
***
Arand [is the power to hinder the arising of another's
210
defilements].
produced through their defilements; they know that they them- selves are the most worthy field of merit (iv. 103, 117a); they fear that others might generate defilements with respect to them
211
The Arhats know that the sufferings of beings are
[which would be particularly injurious to them];
generate a knowledge of such a nature that no other person will produce, with respect to them, lust, hatred, pride, etc. This knowledge puts an end, in beings, to rana9 or contention, which is a defilement, a cause of torment: it is thus called arand or absence of contention.
What are the characteristics of the so-called Arana Samadhi, the Absorption Absence of Contention?
36a. Absence of Contention is conventional knowledge;
By nature it is conventional knowledge, as it results from its object.
36b. It is of the sphere of the Fourth Dhyana;
It exists in ("has for its support") the Fourth Dhyana, which is the best of the easy paths (vi. 66).
36c. It is produced by a person who is Immovable.
thus they
? 1150 Chapter Seven
It is produced by Immovable Arhats {akopyadharman, vi.
56) and not by others: for others are not capable of radically cutting off their own defilements (they are in fact subject to falling) and so they cannot arrest the defilements of others.
36d. It is produced by humans.
It is produced by humans, for it is only a being in the human realm of rebirth who can cultivate it in the Three Dvipas.
36e. It relates to the defilements of Kamadhatu, is future, and has a real object.
It bears on the defilements of others, in Kamadhatu, in the future, and "has a real object" {savastuka), "May no defilements arise in others with respect to me! " The savastuka defilements are craving, anger, etc. , which are abandoned through Meditation (vi. 58).
The avastuka defilements of others (vi. 58), which are
abandoned through Seeing, are not susceptible of being arrested,
for the universal {sarvatraga) defilements (v. 12), which exist in 212
the totality of their sphere, also exist in the series of another.
As is the Samadhi Absence of Contention,
37a-b. So too the Knowledge Resulting from Resolution; 213
[but it has all for its object].
Like the Samadhi Absence of Contention, the Knowledge Resulting from Resolution is, by nature, conventional knowledge; like Absence of Contention, it exists in the Fourth Dhyana, it is produced in the series of an Immovable One, and it is meditated upon by a being in the human realm of rebirth.
? 37b. But it has all for its object.
But, unlike the Samadhi Absence of Contention, it bears on all the dharmas.
214
Yet
are not known by a direct seeing through the Knowledge Resulting from Resolution--being of the Fourth Dhyana, this knowledge does not bear on a higher sphere. These dharmas are known through inference (anumdna). In fact, one knows 1. the outflowing of Arupyadhatu, namely the extreme calm which follows, in a subsequent existence, from a former existence in Arupyadhatu; 2. the conduct of Arupyadhatu, that is to say the practice of the Arupya Samapattis which will produce an existence in Arupyadha- tu,--and one can infer from a cause to its result and from a result to its cause. As the farmer knows a seed from its fruit and a fruit from its seed, seeing a calm person, one concludes, "He is reborn falling from Arupyadhatu, but he will be reborn in Arupyadhatu. " Such is the opinion of the Vaibhasikas.
Others believe however that the Knowledge Resulting from
Resolution bears on Arupyadhatu, for there is nothing that is not
215 within the mental range of the Buddhas.
One who would produce the Knowledge Resulting from Resolution begins by forming a resolution, holding a certain object in his consciousness; he enters into the Fourth prantakotika Dhyana (viii. 41a): this is the preparatory exercise. As soon as he leaves this absorption, he produces an exact consciousness in
the Vaibhasikas say that the dharmas of Arupyadhatu
conformity with his resolution the sphere of which varies 216
according to the power of his absorption.
***
37c-d. So too the Unhindered Knowledges of dharmas, of 217
objects, of etymological explanations, and of eloquence.
There are Four Unhindered Knowledges: the Unhindered
? Knowledge of dharmas, the Unhindered Knowledge of things {artha), the Unhindered Knowledge of etymological explanations (nirukta), and the Unhindered Knowledge of eloquence (prati- bhana). They are like the Samadhi Absence of Contention in that they belong solely to the Immovable Ones who are humans. But they differ from it with respect to their object, the sphere in which they are acquired, and their nature.
38a-b. The first three are unhindered knowledges bearing,
218 in this order, on name, the thing, speech.
Infallible {avivartya) knowledge of names, phrases, and 219
syllables (ii. 47a) is the Unhindered Knowledge of dharmas. Infallible knowledge of the thing is the Unhindered Knowl-
edge of things.
Infallible knowledge of speech is the Unhindered Knowledge of etymological explanation.
38c-d. The fourth is the knowledge of exact and facile
220
Infallible knowledge which confers the capacity to express
221
oneself in an exact and facile manner and which also confers
never failing attention on a person who is a master in absorption is
222 the Unhindered Knowledge of eloquence.
39a-b. Its object is speech and the Path; [it is made up of
223
Speech and the Path are the object of this Unhindered Knowledge.
expression, and of mastery with respect to the Path.
nine knowledges. ]
? 39b. It is made up of nine knowledges.
Which, in its nature, is made up of nine knowledges with the exception of the knowledge of extinction.
39c. It is of all the spheres.
It can arise in an ascetic who exists in any of the spheres, from Kamadhatu to Bhavagra, since it has for its object either speech or the Path.
39c. Unhindered Knowledge of things (artha) is made up of ten or six.
Artha or thing signifies "all the dharmas": in which case the Unhindered Knowledge of things is, by its nature, the ten knowledges; but if artha signifies Nirvana, then it is made up of six knowledges: the knowledge of dharmas, inferential knowledge, the knowledge of extinction, the Knowledge of Destruction, the Knowledge of Non-Arising and conventional knowledge.
39d. It arises everywhere.
That is to say it can exist in any sphere.
39d. The others are conventional knowledge.
Two Unhindered Knowledges (of the dharmas and of etymo- logical explanation) are conventional knowledge, for they have names, phrases, and syllables, etc. , and speech, for their object.
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? 1154 Chapter Seven
40a. The Unhindered Knowledge of dharmas exists in Kamadhatu and the Dhyanas.
It therefore exists in five spheres. Above them, names are
224 absent [and so too phrases and syllables].
40b. The Unhindered Knowledge of speech exists in Kamadhatu and the First Dhyana.
The Unhindered Knowledge of etymological explanation
exists only in Kamadhatu and the First Dhyana, because vitarka is 225
***
According to the Prajnaptipada, the Unhindered Knowledges
are in the following order: 1. the infallible knowledge of name,
phrase, and syllable; 2. the knowledge of the thing (artha)
expressed by its name, etc. ; 3. the knowledge of the expression of
the characteristics of the thing, its number (singular, dual, or
absent above them.
plural), its gender (feminine, masculine, or neuter), the time, 226
etc. ; 4. the knowledge of what is not possible {asaktata) [=which produced the asaktata] either of the expression, or of phrases and syllables. In this way the order of the Unhindered Knowledges is justified.
According to others, nirukti is an etymological explanation
{nirvacanam), for example: rUpyate tasmad rupam (it is physical
matter because it can be crushed), vijanatiti vijrlanam^ (it is
consciousness because it knows or distinguishes), cinotiti cittam (it 227
is mind because it accumulates); pratibhana is the rejoinder.
According to the School, the preparatory exercises of the Four Unhindered Knowledges are, in this order, the study of calculation,
? the word of the Buddha, the study of sounds (sabdavidyd), and the 228
study of causes (hetuvidyd), for a person who has not cultivated these four disciplines is not capable of producing the Four
229
Unhindered Knowledges. But, in fact, the study of the word of
the Buddha alone suffices to achieve the four preparatory exercises.
40c. One only obtains them together.
If a person obtains one Unhindered Knowledge, he obtains the others; if he does not obtain them all, he does not obtain any of them.
***
The six qualities described above, Absence of Contention, etc.
40d. These six are prantakotika.
They receive this name because they are obtained through the power of the Prantakotika Dhyana (vii. 4la-c).
41a. It is sixfold.
The Fourth Prantakotika Dhyana is made up of six things: it consists of 1. Absence of Contention, 2. the Knowledge Resulting from Resolution, 3-5. three Unhindered Knowledges (with the exception of the Unhindered Knowledge of etymological explana-
230 tion), and 6. the Prantakotika Dhyana itself.
Even though the Unhindered Knowledge of etymological explanation may be obtained through the power of a Prantakotika Dhyana, it does not arise in the Fourth Dhyana, for it has Kamadhatu and the First Dhyana for its sphere; consequently it is not included within the Fourth Prantakotika Dhyana.
? The Knowledges 1155
? 1156
Chapter Seven
What is the Prantakotika Dhyana?
It is the last dhyana in the Fourth Dhyana.
4lb-c. It is the last dhyana, in a series with all the spheres
232
a. The Fourth Dhyana is "in a series with all the spheres" when one cultivates it in the following manner: from a good mind of Kamadhatu, one enters into the First Dhyana; from the First Dhyana, into the Second, and so on up to naivasamjnandsarhjnaya- tana (= the Fourth Dhyana); then, one redescends to a good mind of Kamadhatu; finally, from this mind, one ascends again to the Fourth Dhyana.
b. One cultivates the Fourth Dhyana; after having cultivated in
an inferior manner, one cultivates in a medium manner; after
having cultivated in a medium manner, one cultivates in a superior
manner. Each one of these three categories is divided into three.
The Fourth Dhyana is therefore made up of nine categories. The
highest category of the Fourth Dhyana is called "carried to the
maximum" (vrddhikdspdgata). The Dhyana which possesses these
and carried to its maximum.
two qualities is called prantakotika, because its end (koti) has been 2bb
traversed (pragatd) to the extreme (antam).
Koti signifies both "type" (prakdra) and "summit, apex," as
one says: cdtuskopika prasna, that is, a fourfold question; or as one
234
4Id. With the exception of the Buddha, acquired through effort.
With the exception of the Buddha, the other Aryans acquire these six qualities, the Samadhi Absence of Contention, etc. , only through effort, and not through detachment, since all do not
says: bhutakopi, "the limit of existence. " These qualities of the Buddha are
231
? 235
possess them.
detachment, for the Buddha obtains all his qualities in a single stroke, from the beginning, at the moment of the Knowledge of
The Buddha alone acquires them through
236
his will, without effort; for the Buddha is the master of all the
Destruction, through detachment. dharmas that he possesses.
Later, he actualizes them at
***
We have explained the three categories, Absence of Conten-
tion, Knowledge Resulting from Resolution, the Unhindered
Knowledges, which are common to the Aryans. Among the
2bl qualities which also belong to ordinary persons {prthagjanas)
we must explain the Supernormal Knowledges.
42a-d. Realization of the knowledge of supernormal power, of ear, of the mind, of past existences, of death and rebirth, of the destruction of the cankers; this is the sixfold
238
There are six supernormal knowledges: 1. the supernormal
knowledge which consists of the realization of the knowledge of
the sphere of rddhi or supernormal power (that is to say,
supernormal knowledge.
239
which consists of the realization of the knowledge of divine
displacement and creation);
2. the supernormal knowledge
240
realization of the knowledge or consciousness of the mind of
hearing;
3. the supernormal knowledge which consists of the
another;
241
4.
242
the supernormal knowledge which consists of the 243
realization of the knowledge of the memory of past existences;
5. the supernormal knowledge which consists of the realization of
the knowledge of divine sight (of the death and birth of all
245
cankers.
Even though the sixth supernormal knowledge belongs only to
244
the realization of the knowledge of the destruction of the
beings);
and 6. the supernormal knowledge which consists of
The Knowledges 1157
? 1158 Chapter Seven
the Aryans, since the first five are also possessed by ordinary persons, and by reason of the characteristics of the greatest number of supernormal knowledges, here all of the supernormal knowledges are considered as common to the Aryans and to
246 ordinary persons.
247 42d. They are prajnd of deliverance.
They are by their nature the prajnd of the Path of Deliverance, 248
like the results of the religious life.
249 43a. Four are conventional knowledge.
Four, with the exception of the supernormal knowledge of the minds of others and the supernormal knowledge of the destruction of the cankers, are conventional knowledges (vii. 2).
43b. The knowledge of the mind of another is made up of five knowledges.
The fifth supernormal knowledge is by nature the knowledge
of dharmas, inferential knowledge, a knowledge of the Path,
conventional knowledge, and the knowledge of the mind of
250 another.
43c. The supernormal knowledge of the destruction of the
251 cankers is similar to the power.
Exactly like the power of the knowledge of the destruction of the cankers, this supernormal knowledge is made up of six or ten knowledges. So too, it can exist in all of the spheres and relates to all objects.
? 43d. Five exist in the Four Dhyanas. 252
The first five supernormal knowledges exist in the Four Dhyanas, that is to say, they are obtained by an ascetic in any of these Dhyanas.
***
Why do they not exist in the non-material absorptions, the Arupyas?
a. The first three have rupa for their object (see p. 1162, line 14). Thus one cannot produce them in the arupyas.
b. The knowledge of the mind of another is prepared through the gate of physical matter (rupa), that is to say through a path which has color and shape for its object. 253 Now the non-material absorptions do not have physical matter for their object.
? As for the memory of previous existences, the ascetic prepares for this by going over again and again the course of successive states {anupurvavasthantarasmaranat)\2bA now the non-material absorptions do not have the dharmas of Kamadhatu for their object, and when a memory of past existences is actualized, it bears, as the Sutra says, on the place, the gotta, etc. , and on material dharmasPb
d. In fact the ascetic who wishes to know the mind of another first considers, in his own series, the characteristics of his body and mind, "Such is my body, such is my mind. " As he has considered his own body and mind, in this same way, envisioning the series of another, he takes into consideration the characteristic of the body and mind of another: thus he knows the mind of another and the supernormal knowledge arises. When the supernormal knowledge is realized, the ascetic no longer considers the rupa of the body; he directly knows the mind. 256
e. The ascetic who wishes to remember his past existences, begins by grasping the characteristic of the mind which has just perished; from this mind, he again considers the states which it immediately succeeds in the present existence up to the mind at
? I: . ? /emembers one moment of mind of his llpantarabhava), this supernormal knowl- ^der for him to remember the previous
? preliminary exercise is the same. #eginner in the practice of this supernor- pse existences onlyintheir chronological
Lee is acquired, heremembers them by ' existences.
|'ly that which has been experienced
low can there be remembrance of the /; do not return here, the ascetic does not Ld he has not experienced them in their j p n s a r e n o t b o r n in this h e a v e n .
? ecause he has experienced them through [^ho remembers themunderstands, "The ? are such. " The experience, in fact, is
/Mid hearing.
H p m Arupyadhatu, arise here produce this f/>>y means of the seriesof another.
i\/ ? which consists of the memory of past ? re of a Dhyana, and one cannot, through [Wind which is in Arupyadhatu.
"yn by means of theirown series. 258
W the first three supernormal knowled- jlJpwledge of the sphereof rddhi, of divine h/jsht,--consists of the observation of |, fft. 259 W h e n this preparation is achieved,
)\\,(<? in each case.
e supernormal knowledges do not exist lypyadhatu260
? 44a. They have their own sphere or a lower sphere for their
261
domain.
Through the Supernormal Knowledge of magical power of a certain sphere, acquired in a certain dhydna (vii. 43d), one possesses the powers of displacement and creation (vii. 48) in this sphere or in a lower sphere, but not in a higher sphere.
So too, through the Supernormal Knowledge of divine hearing, one understands the sounds of the sphere to which the Supernor- mal Knowledge belongs, or the sounds of a lower sphere, but not the sounds of a higher sphere.
Through the Supernormal Knowledge of the mind of another, one does not know the mind of another when it is of a sphere higher than that of the Supernormal Knowledge.
Through the Supernormal Knowledge of the memory of past existences, one does not obtain the memory of existences in a sphere higher than that of the Supernormal Knowledge.
Consequently, a mind in Arupyadhatu cannot be attained either through the Supernormal Knowledge of the knowledge of the mind of another, nor through the Supernormal Knowledge of the memory of past existences, because this mind in Arupyadhatu is of
262
a sphere higher than that of the Supernormal Knowledges.
***
How are the Supernormal Knowledges acquired?
If they have not been acquired in a past life, they are acquired only through effort.
